Nick Oldham: Rights and Wrongs

More than a third of the units inspected by West Yorkshire Trading Standards officers had the wrong type of glass fitted - increasing the risk of serious accidents.

The survey looked at 47 UPVC extensions and windows fitted into homes in Yorkshire and Humberside and found 16 of them - a worrying 34 per cent - contained the wrong thickness glass. Of the 17 installations inspected in West Yorkshire, six - 35 per cent - were incorrect.

Trading standards divisional manager Paul Cooper said: "The findings are very worrying. Legislation and building regulations have classed certain areas of glass as being in critical locations - and safety glass should be fitted.

"Unfortunately some installers have cut their own costs by putting in the thinner, normal window glass in the critical locations instead of the strengthened glass.

"Ordinary window glass is 4mm thick and will break into long shards which can inflict horrifying injuries.

"It is normally only used in windows which are sufficiently high that it is unlikely people - especially children - will fall into them.

"The regulations say a critical location is the glass in doors and surrounding frames and any area which is less than 800mm from the floor.

"Strengthened glass must by law be fitted in all these areas - whether you are talking about double or single glazing.

"We have had a number of prosecutions in the past and a Bradford double glazing installer accused of failing to fit the proper safety glass has recently had the case against him adjourned by city magistrates until the New Year."

He said householders should discuss the type of glass being fitted before signing a contract and should also check the glass itself for the British kite mark, which will be etched or sandblasted on to the surface.

"If anyone is in any doubt about the correctness of the glass, they can contact us because we have the equipment to check it out," said Mr Cooper.

n The Department of Trade and Industry surveyed the accident and emergency departments of 18 hospitals, including the Airedale General Hospital near Keighley, and estimated 35,000 accidents involved glass.

The Glass and Glazing Federation produces a leaflet which explains the regulations governing the type of glass in doors and windows.

A copy - and information on local GGF members - can be obtained by phoning 0171 403 7177.

We get results...

Fed-up Frances Bailey has been waging a running battle with two gas companies for seven months - after she was mysteriously transferred from one to the other.

The Bradford housewife's troubles began when she received a letter on July 18 from British Gas terminating her contract four days later - even though she had not applied to.

After several phone calls, she was told she had taken out another contract with Yorkshire Electricity. But when she rang YE she was told they could not help her - because they didn't have a contract with her.

Since then Mrs Bailey, 58, of Prospect Street, Eccleshill, has been trying to sort out what happened - and why she was billed by British Gas for £65 for a five-week period up to July 22.

"My nerves are shattered and I am stressed out with this problem," she said. "We live off my husband's pension and I don't know how much we are going to have to pay when we finally get a British Gas bill.

"I just don't know what to do next because I cannot afford any more phone calls."

After being contacted by Rights and Wrongs, British Gas, Transco - the gas pipeline operator - and Yorkshire Electricity all apologised for the trouble the couple had had.

And they all launched an investigation and came up with the same answer - an administrative error.

A Transco spokesman said: "We are not clear at this stage whether it was caused by information received by us or information wrongly allocated by us."

A British Gas spokesman said Mrs Bailey's bill was based on "an unusually high" estimate and would be rectified. It is always distressing when loyal customers are transferred away from British Gas without their consent," she said.

"This is called an erroneous transfer and it has affected thousands of customers since the launch of competition in the gas market.

"All gas companies are working hard together to reduce the number of erroneous transfers."

A Yorkshire Electricity spokesman said: "It would appear that the transfer came about when another customer applied for service and an incorrect supply number for the residence was given."

Traders on new alert over rate cut advice

More Bradford traders are being targeted by firms charging £495 for a service which is free.

Last month Rights and Wrongs highlighted a Manchester-based firm called Lister Johnson which approached Bradford firm Megapak offering to try to reduce the amount of business rate it pays to the Inland Revenue Valuation Office.

Lister Johnson, trading from Princess Street in Manchester, charges £495 plus VAT as soon as the Valuation Office writes back acknowledging it has received the application from the trader and will also take 25 per cent of any reduction awarded.

A Valuation Office spokesman pointed out that any trader can apply free of charge for a rate reduction - and get help from the Inland Revenue into the bargain.

Now Rights and Wrongs has been contacted by several other Bradford firms who were approached by Utilize Consultant Surveyors - before it changed its name to Lister Johnson.

And, since our first report was published, West Yorkshire Trading Standards have had eight calls from other Bradford firms who have been contacted.

Tim Oakman, managing director of West Bowling packing firm MD Implant Ltd, was approached by Utilize, signed a contract and eventually paid the money. But he claims nothing has happened since.

A Lister Johnson rep also paid a visit to Bradford dust extraction and heating and ventilation firm Walker and Holmes Ltd.

Director Michael Lee signed a contract but refused to pay any money - and his business is now being threatened with a writ.

"We are members of the Federation of Small Businesses so we have got them involved in this," he said.

"We wrote to Lister Johnson cancelling the contract because both the directors should have signed it.

"The Federation says it is worthless anyway because there is nothing about cancellation rights on it."

A Federation spokesman said: "We are aware of this case and we are keeping a watching brief on it."

But Lister Johnson manager Chris Brady defended his company's work and the fee it charges.

"If you need a professional service for your business, you pass it on to professional people who can do the work," he said.

"If your accounts need inspection and work, you call in an accountant.

"We provide a full service with all the expertise needed to represent our clients at an appeal if it should come to that. We are not out to rip anyone off."

He said Utilize Domestic Energy Ltd had been trading as Utilize Consultant Surveyors but had now changed to Lister Johnson.

Di's food for thought

Bosses of an Ilkley restaurant have successfully sued a woman who failed to cancel a table reservation.

As reported in Rights and Wrongs in September, Di Cooke was sent a £60 bill from the Box Tree Restaurant after her blind date phoned her to say he would not be able to meet her for a meal.

He told the 41-year-old from Menston he would phone the restaurant and cancel the table - but he didn't.

And because the reservation was in her name, she was in breach of the contract she had entered into with the restaurant when she made the phone booking - and she was responsible for the bill for the lost business.

Now a County Court judge has decided the single mum must pay the £60 as well as another £45 to the restaurant.

Mrs Cooke said: "I think if you are booking over the phone they should make you aware that you could be charged if you don't cancel the reservation.

"I think when you make a telephone booking you don't realise it's a contract. Still - you learn by your mistakes."

A restaurant spokesman said: "We went out of our way to help her to pay the bill before we took court action."

Trading standards officers say the trader has every right to demand money for lost business if the customer has broken the contract by failing to meet the appointment or to cancel it - whether it is for a takeaway meal, a haircut or a dentist.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.