Highgrove Windows - www.highgrove-windows.co.uk

I have a same experiance in 2011

We paid our deposit August 2011 and still have no windows !!!

Buyer beware. This man is a con-man - promises good service and certainly quotes cheaply but once he has your deposit you'll be lucky to ever hear from him again and if you do do NOT believe a word of it.

We paid our deposit August 2012 and still have no windows !!!

Buyer beware. This man is a con-man - promises good service and certainly quotes cheaply but once he has your deposit you'll be lucky to ever hear from him again and if you do do NOT believe a word of it.

We paid our deposit August 2012 and still have no windows !!!

Fensa have chucked him out (too many complaints)

Insurance backed quarantees wont protect you either (as you can only get your money back if he goes into liquidation)

Quite simply put ... Avoid at all costs

The proprietor of Highgrove Windows, barricades himself behind a bevy of answer machines and has failed to respond to my messages. But he is well practised in dodging inconvenient inquiries. I know this because I investigated him in 1999 when he claimed that bankruptcy prevented him honouring contracts.

The Highgrove Windows, that had left a reader out of pocket back then, was incorporated years later using a different address and dissolved in 2008 and now continues as a sole trader. Amazingly, he was able to register as a competent tradesman with Fensa, and amazingly Fensa, which promises protection against rogue traders, seems equipped only to assist customers if a job has been botched, not if it has not been done at all. Moreover, because it revoked his membership after a "high volume of complaints", because its members are relied upon to "self-certify" the quality of their work and it has no legal enforcement powers, it declares itself unable to assist.

"Fensa did attempt to liaise with Highgrove Windows on numerous occasions in response to the customer's complaint, but the company did not respond to any communication from us," says a spokeswoman helplessly.

One body that has enforcement powers is Trading Standards, but this is of little comfort to those who have already fallen victim to rogue traders. "Promises businesses make to me in resolving civil disputes are not legally binding… and the way the legal system is designed means that any action Trading Standards take does not compensate the consumers that have been caused detriment," wrote an officer from Kent Trading Standards to you; it declines to tell me if it is investigating Highgrove Windows.

Even the official legal route can be impotent. The Small Claims Court, which Trading Standards officials tell you is your only hope, has found against him three times in the past year and two county court judgments remain unpaid as he again declares he is bankrupt. There is nothing, it seems, to prevent someone who knows how to play the system to defy toothless regulations and repeatedly reinvent himself. In future, pay when possible by credit card so you are protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Tradespeople that accept credit payments are also more likely to be legitimate than those that demand cash upfront.

Like others, I initially thought I'd been scammed. He can be hard to get hold of and makes wildly optimistic promises about dates and times. He took our deposit before Christmas and the windows were eventually fitted in the 3rd week of April. Having said that, the window fitters were professional, quick and cleared up well before leaving. The windows look fantastic!

Nobody use this man, he will ask you to do a bank transfer via the internet. This way the banks are not responsible for giving back your money cause treated like handing over cash. He will not return calls and texts and if he does excuses e.g. back up of work due to the bad weather, he will tell you he has flu that he cannot shake off.

John this is unkind what you are doing to people that work hard for their money. The police will catch up with you one day.

If you have been conned by John Houlihan of Highgrove Windows please can you contact me as I am in the same position. John hassled me from June 2012 for the order. He took the money Nov 2012. Failed to turn up 3 x with surveyor and 3 x appts for windows to be installed.

I sent recorded letters, spoke to Trading Standards (interestingly if I paid my council tax to anyone other than WSCC I would be entitled to civil breach support) .

He has this week after another visit on Friday, yes he came back round with his "fitters" to "check" things & was installing the windows / french doors this Monday 28th, not turned up again and he is now promising me the refund of £1250 deposit (did you know its against the law to take 50% deposit? as I threatened the police & media coverage.

My windows are falling out and my patio door is broken so I have to borrow the money for someone else to do the job. I would like to get all of us victims together to see if we can take a Class A action against him & I have written to BBC Sussex Radio for an interview. More people more power.

I have a facebook page set up as of today, search “Con Man” or you might be able to find it under email [email protected]. NB Why isnt there an 0/5 option on here?

I had a quote from highgrove windows and agreed of the work to be done.Mr John Houligan ask for 1,400 deposit to be done as a bill transfer which can't be refund by the bank, those i learnt afterwards of course. I Soon realised something was wrong, cancelled the contract but he would not take no for an answer and assured me that he will complete the work by end November 2012. That was beginning of October 2012, til today nothing has been done and no sign of Mr Houligan.

This is a total scam and i just wish i had been more caution.

Gave John Michael Houlihan of Highgrove windows a deposite back in September 2012, after weeks of different excuses and him never answering his phone he finally gave me a date for which the windows were ment to be installed. The date of installation came and he rang me at 8.15am and told me he would 'sort something in a couple of hours' that was the last I herd from him, and has now become un contactable again, I have had to now seek quotes else where as I need the work completed. Never have I experianced the feeling of stress on such a high level over such a long period of time, the whole experiance has been upsetting to say the least, he has done this to many others do not give him a penny!

I had a quote from John Houlihan earlier this year and paid a deposit of £1200. Despite trying to contact him for weeks on end and being constantly fobbed off with excuses he still failed to install my windows within 6 months or return any money...

I used this company successfully in 2009 when they were FENSA registered. Called them back in September for a new front door; parted with half the cost and have not been able to get them to start the work. Fobbed off twice but all calls generally ignored. Avoid these scamsters at all costs!