KBSA Retailers Offer Vital Protection in Difficult Market

The collapse of bathroom brands, bathrooms4all and Victorian Bathrooms is another stark reminder that the high street remains a volatile place and that consumers should take all necessary precautions when making a major home purchase.

The warning follows the news that bathroom retailer Traditional Contemporary Bathrooms has gone into administration. The Dewsbury based business employed 187 people and ran a nationwide network of stores under the brands bathrooms4all and Victorian Bathrooms.

Here at Adamson we believe it’s more important than ever that consumers seek out retailers that offer added protection and look for retailers with a recognised trade association membership that includes deposit protection as a minimum.

We are a member of the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association, (KBSA) a national trade body that upholds standards of design, supply, installation and customer service. We also offer a comprehensive, ConsumerCare Plus insurance scheme, which covers the deposit, advance payments, work in progress and a six year warranty for extra peace of mind.

The tough economic climate is likely to mean more failures are in the pipeline so we would urge customers to research their options carefully and check out what extra assurances a retailer offers before handing over a deposit.

Adamson has been trading for 30 years. As a KBSA member we follow an Approved Code of Practice and are subject to strict monitoring to ensure continued professional service. All members are carefully vetted prior to admission and they must have been trading for at least two years in order to be considered for membership.

We provide the following guidelines on investing in a home makeover:

1. Visit a company that has a showroom so you can inspect the quality of the product and the standard of installation.

2. Choose a retail member with a track record of good installations and ask to speak to some past customers and even visit them in their homes if possible.

3. Be careful about paying in full for your kitchen in advance. You should not pay a deposit of more than 25% and if it is likely that you will be required to make an interim payment, ask for a written payment schedule, which includes the timings of any interim payment and final retention.

4. Make sure you have a written quotation that covers every aspect of the job, including fitting, flooring and any structural alterations you may have discussed.

5. Don’t sign anything unless you are prepared to honour your side of the contract. Some terms and conditions have expensive cancellation clauses. If in doubt contact the KBSA.

As a potential customer of Adamsons, please contact us if you have any particular questions related to the service and assurances we provide.