KBSA - Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association

Protect yourself - Choose a KBSA retailer

24 August 2011
image

The shockwaves created by the demise of high street names such as Moben, Dolphin, Sharps and Habitat shows the wisdom of taking precautions before making a major home purchase. 

So for peace of mind and deposit protection, always choose an accredited retailer says the national trade association for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom industry, the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association, (KBSA).

Only a KBSA member retailer can offer the reassurance of Association membership with financial protection and TrustMark status, which means if a consumer is caught up in the failure of an accredited business they will experience less distress when trying to recover their money and complete the installation of their kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.

All KBSA members follow an Approved Code of Practice and are subject to strict monitoring to ensure continued professional service.

Many KBSA members have also been approved to trade as Trustmark accredited retailers via membership of the KBSA. This Government backed programme is part of its ‘anti-cowboy’ legislation and helps consumers find reliable and trustworthy professional tradesmen to carry out repairs and improvements to the inside and outside of their homes.

All KBSA members are dedicated to upholding the association’s high standards of design, supply, installation and customer service throughout the interiors industry. 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. 

All KBSA members are listed on the KBSA website, www.kbsa.org.uk, and a postcode search will locate the nearest retailers.

The KBSA offers 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 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.

Enquiries: Downing Dunmore PR
Telephone: 01384 878777 Fax: 01384 872104 Email: info@ddpr.biz