The Glass and Glazing Federation, or GGF has issued a statement to BBC Radio Surrey after news was released of the recent conviction of Zenith Staybrite. The GGF have issued the statement as a response for comment after the double glazing company was found guilty of using illegal high-pressure sales tactics and falsely claiming offers were limited. After the guilty verdict the company has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £330,000.

In the statement released by the GGF, Zenith Staybrite were condoned. It was emphasised that the company was not a GGF member and it is a knock to the entire Glazing Industry to hear about the malpractice that has been carried out by Zenith. The news of the illegal high pressure sales tactics has been called disappointing by the GGF and the Federation hope that the company will take drastic steps to change their approach to sales, if they have not already done so.

The conviction of Zenith Staybrite has highlighted the importance of the GGF Consumer Code of Practice that has been approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The Code is known for being the only approved Code of Conduct in the glass and glazing industry. All of the members of the GGF must adhere to the Code of Practice put forward by the Federation.

As part of the Code of Practice, GGF members must not engage in any high pressure selling techniques and is also explicit in saying that companies must not offer inflated prices for goods and services above those depicted on the company’s price list and should not offer “special one day offers” that are untrue. As part of the compliance to the GGF Code of Practice, only genuine discounts that have been agreed by the company can be applied to a sale.