Anglian Windows closes Rochdale factory
There’s been quite a few rumours flying around recently about Anglian struggling. After the demise of Zenith / Staybright and various other double glazing companies - you’re always going to get gossip.
But, yesterday, I got information from a very well informed individual, that Anglian really are struggling. I’ll not go into detail, but the news surprised me really, as Anglian Group has always been a strong brand name in our marketplace.
Then today I find out that Anglian have closed their Lancashire factory with the loss of 165 jobs.
In an update to Anglian’s staff, Stig Hansen, managing director of Anglian Group’s manufacturing division, said: ‘Anglian Group in common with other companies in the sector, is currently experiencing a downturn in sales and profitability in its new build and other markets as a result of the prevailing economic climate.
‘It is therefore with regret that Anglian has today announced the closure of its Rochdale factory with the loss of 165 jobs. The company will commence a redundancy consultation process with the Rochdale workforce with immediate effect.
‘Prior to formalising the proposal to shut the Rochdale plant, the company also considered a number of other options to reduce manufacturing capacity including job losses in Norwich and a combination of job losses in both Rochdale and Norwich plants.’
Anglian are also trying to reduce costs in other areas, such as taking 100 of their fitting vans off the road.
I’ve got mixed feelings on this news. In some respects I’m quite happy about it because:
Despite all the above, I also feel very sad about this news because:
It’ll be interesting to see how Anglian performs in 2008.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Martin Troughton // Mar 10, 2008 at 12:24 pm
As the marketing director of Anglian Home Improvements I think you will find that rumours of our demise are very premature.
Like everyone in the industry we are finding the market challenging and are making adjustments accordingly but we are healthy and profitable.
Also your comment on us cutting prices is also wrong we will however remain competitive so you better watch out when pitching against us - a keen price, a great product and a strong brand make for stiff competition.
2 Renegade Conservatory Guy // Mar 10, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hi Martin
Thank you for commenting. I agree these are challenging times.
It’s great news that Anglian are not cutting prices.
Our retail window company enjoys competing at similar prices to Anglian, and then the consumer has the choice of choosing a national company or a local company.
3 Anglian Home Improvements appear on BBC’s Watchdog programme // Apr 15, 2008 at 7:09 am
[…] surprised me was that about a month ago, I wrote a post about Anglian closing their Rochdale factory, and was delighted that Martin Troughton, the Marketing Director from Anglian visited my website […]
4 Anglian taken over by syndicate of banks // Jul 31, 2008 at 7:46 am
[…] undertaking an extensive cost restructuring programme that has so far included depot closures and the consolidation of a manufacturing facility in Rochdale into the company’s Norwich […]
5 MR FLETCHER // Aug 9, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I HAVE JUST HAD MY ROOFTRIM , NEW DOORS AND WINDOWS FROM ANGLIAN……….WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY HAVE DONE FOR US ( THE STAFF WAS VERY HELPFULL TO)– THANK YOU, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
6 paul.com // Aug 10, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Wow a remarkable renaissance must be under way now that the syndicate has taken over. Probably because my bank Lloyds TSB is involved . I wish I was still working for them now ! (Working for Anglian I mean.”my bank” meaning I bank with Lloyds)
Why don’t I really believe any of this??
See the real reason I left http://argu.weebly.com/dgrcg.html
bottom video. Some strong langauge though.
7 Post your Fake Customer Testimonials here // Aug 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm
[…] Anglian Windows closes Rochdale factory […]
8 Ian Chrystie // Oct 3, 2008 at 7:48 am
I recently organzied a visit from an Anglian rep. He came, chatted, and measured up for windows, guttering, et cetera. I asked that he work out the cost and send me a quote. Nothing arrived. A few days later I had a call from another Anglian chap (the line manager of the first one, I think) to ask how the visit had gone. I told him I was waiting for a quote; he said he woruld organise one; nothing arrived.
I wrote to Stig Hansen to ask what was going on. I have yet to receive a reply. However, not too long after the letter was sent I did get a call from another Anglian chap asking how things were going. I told him I was waiting for a quote; he said he would investigate; nothing has arrived.
Maybe I’m missing something here. Is it illegal to give potential customers a written quotation for work they wish to be done?
9 charles traynor // Nov 19, 2008 at 3:29 am
Anglian windows and doors installed my door 4 years ago and has leeked water ever since it took this company 4 years to resolve this problem and thier staff can only be described a second rate amatures with no intent of helping customers this also includes managing director Barry Chilvers who is to busy to even deal with a customer concern after 4 years of dealing with his incompetant staff , whats is even worse is you then get passed to a guy called dave spencer who proclaims to be the regional installation manager this guy does not have a clue what he is talking about and can only be described as a poor salesman a word of advice if you are thinking of getting new windows or doors do not contact anglian windows this company are nothing less than a nightmare .
10 Paul // Nov 20, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I have two ex-Anglian Salesmen now working for me. Don’t worry householders - we have re-trained them to be normal human beings once again. And beneath the Anglian veneer they are real sweet peas.
As Abraham Lincoln said:
“Pluck thistles and plant flowers wherever you go”
Paul
11 Beverly Ravisankar // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:03 pm
One of your contributors has had a very lucky escape indeed!! Thank goodness they haven’t given him a quote yet. We on the other hand, are stuck in a nightmarish situation with Anglian. In August 2008, we placed an order with Anglian on the understanding that we needed our resident committees approval before the order could be executed. Approval was not granted by the committee and months later, we are still trying to get £543 of our hard earned money back from Anglian. We’ve sent several letters to them but strangely enough none of them seem to be able to write a simple letter of response. Maybe they’ve figured out that there’s a lot of money to be made by duping unsuspecting customers.
12 Test // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Test
13 Phil Jennings // Dec 21, 2008 at 1:08 am
Anglian Windows, Shocking tactics used to intimidate, Scare, Frighten, the victims of this abusive Company.
Many cases this year reported in the News papers, one such horror story was delt with by Tony Levene, from the Guardian newspaper, involving an 84 year old Lady’s story of the hell they put her through. Another horror story acted out by Directors on a Female Employee dubbed by the news papers, The Sales Queen, who took them to Court and won. another horror story regarding another 74 Year old Female.
i have heard first hand another story after having my windows done, 4 years ago, yet another elderly lone female from the Stockport Area, her daughter was telling me the way her mother was treated by Anglian, her Daughter in her 50’s broke down crying, after explaining to me the ordeal she was put through trying to deal on behalf of her mother, as her Mother could not deal further, because of the amount of stress.
The tactics used by Anglian, are delays to the extreme, to encourage you to go away, if that doe’s not work, more delays, refusal to carry out works more delays, lies, letters never answered, abuse will usually then follow, and usually continue.
When they have made continued mistakes, by not been able to measure up windows, refusing to put right these mistakes, on my home Causing extensive damage, and refusing to put right, 4 years later and more damage caused, they refuse to repair, their tactics is to force you to claim on your own insurance.
When they caused so much damage to my home, they refused to repair, or pay for damage caused, after many weeks i told them i am calling in a loss adjuster, then in an instant, they said ok we will repair via their insurers, i finally got them to put this in writing, and to this day 4 years later, no repairs, they ignore all requests.
I have posted many films on this in my hall of shame parts 1,2,3, and many other films on Anglian, on utube, please visit, type in the search area Anglian windows, that will take you to the film lists.
They never put in the legally required spreader plates in Jan 2005, on a large load bearing bay with a brick parapet above with stone capping, this was crushing the windows as they never put in any supports.
Then after putting in writing they would install the legally required plates the second time. They after removing the bay to install a new one, they then said only FENSA Regs apply, they said Building regulations don’t apply to my installation of new windows. this statement was found to be a lie, used to deceive. as there is now such thing as FENSA regulations. i do have this recording for evidence if it is needed.
You guessed it, after installing the the windows again for the second time the windows were been crushed, putting my life and others at risk, as the glazing units could have exploded at any time, and possible collapse of the Bay, this bay is in a 1 bedroom bungelow , so i could not ever use the bedroom.
Building Control wanted to prosecute, but by law this had to be done within a period of 6 MONTHS at the time, we missed this deadline, so AHI can break the Law, and refuse to comply with Building regulations and get away with it, They state on their website FENSA enforces Building regs, this is untrue, as proved, because it took me 3 1/2 years to force both AHI and FENSA to comply with building regs, by breaking B.regs, they are also breaking Health and Safety Laws, and again get away with it.
Then just to sign off the job, as i was complaining and asking why they had not installed the legally required plates, they had put in writing, AHI then sent in their Bogus debt collector, this man refused to give his name, or who he worked for, only stating he was a National Debt Recovery Manager, who has come to collect a debt on behalf of Anglian windows Stockport office who are Underperforming.
This company was still installing windows, at this time, as they could not get the windows to fit, they sent out a debt collector, before the job was complete, also my Installations Manager never asked for money. not only did the debt collector demand money with menace. On a second visit he then denied he was a debt collector, when i managed to get him and my Installation Manager together, i asked the debt collector to leave, he refused, then i informed i am calling in the Police, in defiance after causing a Scene, he went to his car, took out a Camera and started taking photos of me and my Father. despite making continual complaints about this year after year, every complaint about their employees went unanswered.
I also repeatedly asked for the return of the photos taken illegally, they ignored all requests just plane ignorant this company is, what would happen if it was a female family member this man was taking photos of, and they just ignore the return of photos taken, this company is an absolute disgrace, what if this man has already been taking photos of female Customers, for AHI never to answer any questions or letters on this matter is shocking.
filmed abuses taken place, even when i wrote asking not to send anymore employees from the Stockport office, because i cannot take anymore of the abuse, this tactic was designed to make the customer drop the complaint, after them abusing my father and hearing, the stories of the Seniors Citizens i will not give up, complaining until the Senior Management is brought to book for the abuses.
Consumers have to be protected from this kind of thing by Companies.
I Then discovered years late, just recently the Debt Collector, looks like someone who is very high up in Anglian windows, after seeing his Photo on their website under the news section, Corporate news. this Mans signiture is on the letter sent to me Signed by this man. Next to the title National Debt Recovery Manager, under a different name. by repeated pressure to FENSA and the GGF, 3 1/2 years later i get a response, and is as follows, the Man claiming to be a debt collector was infact an installation Manager, he no longer works for the company, as part of his role was to collect money when the job was finished, Anglian refuse to answer any furhter questions, on this matter.
Then i discovered the Man who sent out the bogus debt collector was Anglians finance Director, i recorded him saying, he sent out the Man, then i discovered and confirmed with the GGF, he is also a director in the GGF, the Glass and Glazing Federation, also the GGF own FENSA and are in the same offices.
Strange that the Finance Director in AHI also Director in the GGF also in the same building as FENSA, Why i wonder why it took me 3 1/2 years to force AHI to be compliant with building regs, 2 of these years it took me to force FENSA to Comply
The only reason why FENSA helped me was because i sent them a Recording where a Senior Manager in AHI stated Building regs don’t apply to my installation. that is the only reason why they decided to help, knowing full well building regs were been broken, they knew i had been to building control, they also knew, i could not by myself force them to comply with the LAW, also i have an email trail here to prove FENSA KEPT saying AHI wont speak to them, and they don’t understand why AHI wont deal.when i eventually forced both AHI and FENSA to comply with building regs in MAY 2008, BOTH these carried out inspections and then installed the legally required spreader plates, finally.
Guess what happened, despite all their knowledge and so called skills, they allowed the bay to drop, through Negligence by only propping up this structure using only 1 ackro, and refuse now to put the bay back up to it’s original height, now the water on the flat roof will not drain off the roof,
AHI is hiding behind it’s solicitors when i stated i am seeking specialist advice. In 2006, i armed myself with a Consultants report, who agreed with me and my concerns regarding the bay constuction, it took me and Consumer Direct, 9 months just to get this company on site, delay tactics used by AHI, none communication, sending appointement from their stockport office to addresses in Liverpool then stating i was not at home, ect, me and consumer direct work tirelessly every day, to get them to come and open up the BAY so evidence could be collected, when they eventually arrived on site, they refused to open up the bay, said they wore bored and left, by doing this as they seen the windows been crushed they had broken health and safety LAWS, building regs, the company is a nightmare. they break the Law and not even Consumer direct force them to comply, not even Trading Standards or the Trust Mark Scheme that is a governement Scheme set up to remove bogus and rouge builders to help proctect the Consumer. i fail to under stand why none of them will help.
As a home owner you are legally responsible to ensuer anyone who carries out work on your Home, that it complies with Building regulations, if you don’t you could face a big fine of up to £5,000, so Anglian have left me and others, in a legal nightmare, i am chatting to a person from Utube and they have done the same thing to him, Anglian home improvements are leaving customers homes in danger of Collapse leaving homes in a dangerous Condition, they are breaking Health and Safety LAWS, and they do not care.they just hide behind their solicitors, stating take us to court you will not win, Strange i got the same threat from the CEO of FENSA Who stated he will stand up in Court and tell the Judge that AHI are a reputabel company and they know what they are doing.And i will not win any COURT case. FENSA make no comment now, FENSA CEO stated this before he went on his hols in Oct, stating sign the deal,AHI’s gagging order, which i would not sign.
The British Board of Agreement the people who set the standards for products in your home,are investigating at the moment and have scientist working on this case, as i have sent them filmed evidence of extreme condensation forming on the FRAMES glazing units and poles, and proved to them in a 4 part sequence, of film, the reason i have explained is the White Knight design of windows has not changed in 15 years, and water is allowed to enter the inner frame by design, this water enters the inner seals and evaporates into the inside of the home, also water enters into and summerges the glazing unit in water, this seeps out of the inner beading all the time.
i would suggest to anyone who gets involved with this company, if you are not convinced of the horror stories on the web about this company and you do employ them, record everything, if you don’t you will be called a liar, by them, you will be deceived and abused. you will need this evidence to prove to the world what had taken place.
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