Window Service & Repair Daylight Robbery…
After previously having had good service and support from the original team at WS&R - my recent experience of their management and sales team have left me truly shocked.
Having experienced a failed 1910 bay window lintel event at the front of our house - our builders did a super job in urgently repairing the main structure back to good as new during Sept to Nov of 2025.
This just left me to call WS&R to come and assess the double glazing unit & window seals for repair or replacement. Post inspection by Darren (owner), a sum of £300+ was levied on the amount of work (3-4hrs min) and the type of material required/experience needed per their estimate & assertion for prep, clean & execution of work. Whilst high, we believed it was an important, messy and awkward job to perform - so agreed to engage with the professionals.
Things swiftly went wrong thereafter. Per my call prior to the day of work, I phoned to ask as to what might be involved and whether THEY would perform the window preclean, etc; need to remain onsite whilst cleaning, etc.
"Actually, it would allow the fitter to start quicker and get straight into the main job, if the window was pre prepped" was the basic jist from S @ WS&R; so we obliged and prepped, washed and readied said window for the day before.
When J arrived the next day, on road parking was paid for by us for 3-4 hours (half a day) after which he got underway. Now whilst his repair work in the upper part of the bay (1st floor) was mediocre and patchy at best; his work on the lower bay was more professional albeit he still missed the upper part of the bay completely.
After completing said work (all solely done with Stalmax - NOTHING else, and not a new tube) he then left the final job sheet and promptly left site - about 1hr 20m after arriving.
Now based on a). The original prep having been done by us, b). The original effort having been reduced to less than half the estimated time, c). The total usage and cost of materials being equivalent to £15-20 and d). The work being basically just competent - we believed we had a grievance for being seriously overcharged, easily within the region of 30-50% of the original estimate.
After several calls to Darren at WS&R (who quoted the job) and ZERO calls back from him directly; eventually a week later we only heard direct from A & S at WS&R speaking on his behalf. They confirmed the price was right, completely avoided answering the cleaning/prep avoidance, and said that the time estimate was not relevant - it was all based on the tradesman's skill & experience. So per their own words, a cost and time of their own estimate, was non-negotiable - even if the effort is a lot less and they use pounds worth of material if that. The skill being referred to was operation of a sealant pump - remember, there was no detection, analysis or complex puzzle to solve here!
We have now paid the amount in reflection of our good faith in the transaction - but have informed WS&R that we will NEVER USE, NOR REFER them to friends and family in the area again.
So, if you get involved with them, always double check the figures and at best, avoid their creative accounting in advance - by getting a full breakdown on the smallest of things. Paying practically £100 per HALF hour, for their employee to run several beads of Stalmax (£30 is generous) with ZERO inhalation protection for them, or ourselves nearby - is greedy & unconscionable for a company I previously held in high esteem before meeting their owner.
3 December 2025
Unprompted review
