The Revival Company, the fire and flood restoration specialist based in Oxfordshire and with offices around the UK, has announced that it will be adopting a new industry code of practice released by the Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers following recent figures made public by Consumer Direct.
The Consumer Direct figures put complaints relating to furniture at number three in the list of most complained about business sectors, with home maintenance and second hand cars being first and second respectively.
The new code of practice aims to reassure consumers that dealing with a subscribing member offers protection, safeguards, and that the work they undertake will be of a high standard with sound procedures in place should things go wrong.
Also identified are issues which both contractor and consumer should take into account before entering into a contract, together with ongoing obligations of both members and consumers clearly identified. The code also clarifies technical differences between re-upholstery and recovery and the requirements of the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.
Eventually the new code will become binding on all members but in the interim members are being invited to subscribe to the code voluntarily.
Graham Orris, managing director of The Revival Company, said: "I am delighted the Association has addressed this issue. I feel that a code of practice is long overdue, as for many years anyone with a work bench and basic tools has been able to set up as an upholsterer. This has led to a large number of lesser skilled, poorly qualified people entering the market with very often devastating results. The new code will sort the sheep from the lambs and will identify bona-fide properly insured trades which will boost trade and protect consumers."