We’ve got another one at it!

Throughout our time as the UK’s leading supplier/installer of the best wall coatings and insulation systems available, we have suffered.  We have been copied, deliberatley “traded off” and always put at risk of people trying to gain credibility from our success.

The following information shows just how careful you should be when trying to secure the correct company to improve your home.

This company have been around for a long period of time………….but something doesn’t add up, if you catch my drift!

Below is an reproduction from the BBC Watchdog website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/11/rogue_traders_updates.html

“ANDURA GUARD

Back in 2006 we featured Mosaic ERP Systems Ltd, a company that sold a weather proof coating for the exterior walls of houses.

We secretly filmed a training session for their sales force and discovered that they use scare mongering techniques to convince home-owners to purchase a product that their home often doesn’t need.

At the time, Mosaic told us they did have strict procedures in place, and they took our allegations very seriously and would take appropriate action.

A year later we featured Pearl XPS Ltd a completely different company who sold a similar product, had a very similar logo, a very similar promotional video and some of the same staff.

Again, secret filming revealed how salesmen grossly exaggerated deficiencies within customer’s properties to secure sales of their coating.

Then earlier this year we heard from 78-year-old Mrs Pat Wicker, in August she had been visited by an Andura Guard salesman. She had a very similar story to tell.

The salesman was in her house for 6 hours and told her that without his product her home could “fall down about your ears”. Eventually she agreed a deal worth £8,531. She handing over a £531 deposit and also signed up for a ten year loan to pay for the balance.

However, after Mrs Wicker spoke to her daughter the contract was cancelled and her deposit was returned.

So is there a link between Pearl XPS Ltd and Andura Guard – yes, they’re the same company.

We contacted Chartered Surveyor Ralph Burkinshaw and after examining the property he told us: “There are no damp problems that need to be solved by application of external coatings. There are no structural problems that need to be solved by application of external coatings.”

Andura Guard have responded stating:

We have vigorous checks and procedures in respect of elderly customers. Mrs Wicker was given the opportunity to consult with her family several times and she declined saying she was able to act independently. Contracts with customers who are over 65 are only processed once all procedures and checks have been completed fully and satisfactorily. Mrs Wicker expressed her views and opinions robustly confirming to our Senior Manager that there were existing problems with her property, she could afford to have the work done, she was very happy and grateful for the long time spent by our representative. She did subsequently inform us that she did not wish to proceed with the contract in accordance with her legal rights of cancellation which were clearly displayed on the contract. This was accepted by us without question. We deny that we have in any way acted improperly with regards to Mrs Wicker.

With regard to previous footage, at the time of these broadcasts we provided extensive investigation and explanation and were able to refute much of what was alleged. Where personnel were found to be in breach of the company’s guidelines they were either dismissed at the time or redirected and trained as appropriate. The company continues to review and improve all procedures on an ongoing basis.

We communicate directly with over ½ million homeowners and provide our quotation service to over 100,000 homeowners every year. We complete contracts for our product and service to thousands of satisfied customers year on year. If complaints are received we work hard to investigate them fully and take whatever action is appropriate. Neither Watchdog nor Trading Standards have provided us with any details of any other complaints referred to in the programme. We are concerned about their failure to do so and are following this up with them”.

Below are the names listed on companies house before the latest change:   “Weatherex Ltd”.

18/02/2005 – WALLCOTE LIMITED
28/07/2006 – ANDURAGUARD LIMITED
15/10/2007 - PEARL XPS LIMITED

I’ll leave you with the following thoughts.  If they are trying to evade prosecuction by very cunningly using our trademark, have changed their name many times and DON’T install wall coatings to current building regs then we feel this following historic quote may be appropriate.  Take care.

The scars of others should teach us caution..Saint Jerome (374 AD – 419 AD)

WETHERTEX – better for the experience