Payment Protection Scheme

FIRA’s sister organisation, The Furniture Ombudsman, operates a payment protection scheme for its registered members. The aim of this scheme, in line with the objectives of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), is to protect both the consumer and the retailer/installer in relation to items requiring full payment in advance of installation.

In particular, the scheme is applicable to the installation of kitchens, bedrooms and home offices .

The scheme offers an alternative to companies requiring full payment in advance. The consumer pays in full, but with an adequate proportion of the price to be placed in a protected bank account. Should the service be completed successfully then the remaining money is released from this bank account. However, should a dispute arise then this sum is released only according to the merits of the case as determined by an independent expert.

The Furniture Ombudsman has successfully been operating a payment protection scheme for a number of its registered members as identified as being required by the OFT.

Membership of the scheme protects organisations from the threat of injunctive proceedings by the OFT against any company which appears to be determined to persist in using inappropriate terms and conditions of sale.

E-mail:

Links:

• What is The Furniture Ombudsman
• Look for more information (How to Choose Furniture)
• List of Registered Members