The June 6th deadline has now passed for all window and door installation companies to have passed their MTC inspections. As you will also know, a few days ago FENSA published a list of approved IBG companies that we all had to use, or swap over to if we didn’t already use them. That list had just four companies on there, with HomePro and IPWFI both the same company as it appeared on the HomePro website. However, after pressure online about the lack of diversity, it has now published a far more susbtantial list of IBG companies:
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Glass and Glazing Federation Insurance (GGFI)
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Home Improvement Protection (HIP)
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HomePro Insurance
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HPL
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Independent Warranty (IWA)
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Installations Assured
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Insured Windows Guarantees Ltd (IWG)
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IPWFI Insurance
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Plastic Window Federation (PWF)
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Quality Assured National Warranties (QANW)
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The Consumer Protection Association (CPA)
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The Underwritten Warranty Company Trading As The Insurance Backed Guarantee Company
With 12 companies now on the list, this should now cover most of the industry’s installation businesses. What annoyed many about this was the fact that the original list of IBG companies had just four on there. Surely it should have been fairly obvious that a large proportion of the industry would not have been using these four IBG companies?
Ourselves, we use IWA and have done since 1995. The fact that IWA were not on the list, coupled with FENSA telling us that we had to move or else, with less than two weeks notice, was less than idea. We also spoke to IWA about this over the phone and I can assure you that they were less than happy at their exclusion, and I’m sure all those that were suddenly missed off the first list would have felt the same frustration.
Still, this new list is far more comprehensive and helpful to a lot more of us.
If companies wish to consider if they could save money on IBGs now that the giving of them is mandatory, we feel it useful to point out that GGF Members get special reduced rates from GGFi – example premium for a window contract up to £25K is just £10.60.
GGF Membership starts from just £315 pa
Fensa jumped up arm of the ggf
Who do diddly squat for the small business except increase bottom line costs
We have had many concerned members contacting us regarding this.
Everyone would like a proper explanation from FENSA for this ridiculous error, not a sales pitch by their owners at GGF, for their own scheme.
The undertaking of due diligence by FENSA has taken longer than we would have liked. This process is vital in ensuring that the right cover is offered and that all providers have the processes in place required by FENSA as a Competent Persons Scheme.
There may be further insurance companies added to the FENSA Approved Provider list in due course.
We would be delighted to talk to any installers about Insurance Backed Guarantees. The CPA has long been an advocate of IBGs as a way of increasing consumer confidence for many years and are pleased that this has now been made mandatory, rather than just best practice. We have been promoting the changing regulations to our members and through on our blog for some time. In an ideal situation the full list of IBG companies would have been released sooner. For more information visit on the CPA’s IBG’s visit our website: http://www.thecpa.co.uk