How people cheat when buying and installing plastic windows

Dishonest companies make plastic windows from recycled plastic; this deception is revealed by examining the profile. Typically, such products have an uneven shade; the tone of the glazing bead and the front side are especially different. Another form of deception is the use of an object profile created for non-residential rooms. It is also made from recycled materials. Signs:

• wall thickness less than 3 mm;
• lack of inscriptions on the cellophane of the protection;
• tags “object”, object, “tender”, “engine”, similar in meaning;
• pungent odor unacceptable for living rooms;
• very low cost.

These products cannot be installed in a living room, despite the low price.

High-quality profiles are equipped with steel reinforcement, which gives strength. You can check its presence with a magnet. If there is no metal, it is better to abandon the profile. The quality is evidenced by the screws on the frame end. The maximum permissible distance between them is 300-500 mm. The screws should not come loose.

Accessories

It accounts for up to 65% of the cost of the window, so scammers often save on it. To avoid being deceived when repairing or installing a window, you need to draw up as thorough a contract as possible, which should indicate the dimensions of the product, the number of parts, and manufacturers.

The quality of the fittings is checked by turning the handle. German products turn without effort or jerking, nothing should bend or creak. It is better not to install unknown crafts from China so that the sashes do not sag.

Particular attention should be paid to the erroneous action blocker and the counter bar. The lock holds the sash when changing from the rotary to the tilting position; it must be used when using the tilt-and-turn opening method. The absence of this detail indicates the unreliability of the company. Strikers are installed along the inside of the frame so that the sash fits tightly; there must be at least 4 of them. Saving on them indicates the company’s dishonesty.

Fraudsters are betrayed by low-quality Chinese fittings, a lack of screws for fastening them, and attempts to save money on blockers and strikers.

Double-glazed windows

Window repair and installation scammers pretend to be double glazed windows. Signs:

• cheap sealants, small quantities;
• instead of polyisobutylene, double-sided electrical tape is used for primary sealing and fastening of glazing;
• instead of polysulfide, silicone or hotmelt is used for secondary sealing;
• replacing phonosorb, which absorbs moisture, with silica gel or another cheap analogue, or abandoning it.

Sealing levels must be visible. A whitish or translucent level of primary sealing indicates that the company has saved money; the double-glazed window will quickly lose its properties. This layer should be black. The thickness of the second level should be from 5 mm.

The deception is evidenced by the use of plain glass instead of M1 float glass. To identify a fake, you need to look at a neighboring building or object with smooth outlines at an angle. Float glass does not produce distortions and waves when moving the head and eyes.

Fraudsters install two glasses instead of three in a double-glazed window. To check, bring a candle or lighter to the window. If there are three glasses, there will be six reflections of the fire, if there are two glasses, there will be four reflections.

If the reflection of the flame is red, the glass is plain. Reinforcement or energy saving technology produces purple reflections.

Slopes

Normally, slopes are made of 10 mm sandwich panels. They exclude fungus, sagging, and freezing. Honest companies lubricate the joints with liquid plastic, which is similar in structure to PVC, which eliminates cracks and guarantees uniform color of the profile and the slope.

Fraudsters lubricate windows with silicone, which turns black and falls off in a matter of weeks. Instead of sandwich panels, they glue cold wall panels coated with sealant. Fungus appears, thermal insulation decreases, and the shades of the profile, slope and putty differ noticeably.

How to avoid falling into the trap

The consumer takes the first step into the trap himself. He makes an initial call to such a company. When communicating with a consultant, he does not even try to fully find out the details of the provision of services, pricing policy and product quality.

For example, our specialist in this situation explains how best to calculate the preliminary cost. These are both volume parameters and window components (sash, profile, double-glazed window, etc.). We will definitely tell you about additional options.

If a company is playing dirty, these aspects are often not mentioned during the first dialogue. And naive clients immediately focus on price.

Naturally, the scammer offers the most favorable prices when analyzing the price lists of competitors. We explain to consumers that today a plastic window is a combination of the following factors:

1. Components from different manufacturers.
2. Compliance with technological standards in production, assembly and installation.
3. Reliability and operational period.

They call and offer free window diagnostics, why and where is the catch?

Free diagnostics of plastic windows - another scam ? Can you count on any free services these days? Plastic windows are installed in many apartments, so calls offering such services are not uncommon. In this article we talk about the possible consequences.

Revealing the cards: divorce scheme

One fine day a call rings and a sweet voice on the phone offers you “completely free” preventive maintenance for plastic windows. Nowadays, few people do not have plastic windows. And few people care about their prevention. This means: call any apartment, you can’t go wrong with an offer. Who will agree is another matter. But it depends on how and whom to convince. Most often, gullible elderly people become victims of scammers.

Deception by profile

Often the client hears information that the profile was made in Europe: in Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. The client falls for it. His distrust of domestic products also plays a big role here. At the same time, he does not think about the true price of real European products. This is only beneficial for the scammer.

For example, if a profile is designated as German, then it is produced in Russia. But the production technology is German. And enterprises are official partners of the brand. They are constantly subject to technological control. They are issued certificates of this brand with a certain validity period.

I advise clients to know the points of famous brands in Russia:

The VEKA brand also operates a plant in Moscow.

Almost all European products are of solid quality. Its minimum warranty period is 40 years. It does not crack or turn yellow in the sun.

I do not recommend purchasing Turkish and Chinese products. They meet different standards and have different quality. And the price tags are almost identical.

A company claiming to have German profiles must confirm this with this quality certificate. Be sure to ask for it before purchasing plastic windows.

The window check scam is still popular

The boom with such testing occurs precisely during the cold period of the year - autumn, winter and spring. When the temperature outside drops below zero, some note that the apartment becomes cold, there is blowing from the sashes, the windows fog up, etc. Therefore, there is a natural desire to understand the reason why the windows have lost their former reliability and tightness. And here, unexpectedly, an offer for free inspection of plastic windows comes to hand. Fraudsters simply manipulate consumers by providing their services at the right time and at the right time.

To be honest, I don’t know why many people still carry out routine inspections of plastic windows. Enough has already been said and written about this. When installing windows, I personally contact customers and warn about such cases. However, the fact remains.

Fake factor

Fraudsters often cheat on your profile using two methods:

1. Copying.
2. Purchasing a cheaper product. Replacing the protective film. And the profile instantly becomes a product of a famous brand.

For example, to imitate REHAU products, they buy products from Artec, Montblanc and Brusbox.

To imitate KBE products, options from Novotex, Rigap and Proplex are used.

I pay special attention to the object profile. It is installed in non-residential premises. In appearance, it is similar to a regular profile. Only in its production is low-grade plastic (after recycling). Its walls are 3 mm thinner than the normalized value. It is logical that its price is several times lower.

Here are his examples:

How to detect deception? Look at the protective film. If there are no words “object”, “tender” or similar in meaning, refuse such products.

The structure has poor strength, rigidity and thermal conductivity. Plastic can have a nasty smell. It is prohibited to use such a profile in residential premises!

Substitution

This is the easiest method. Instead of the declared product, a cheaper one is installed. For example, there is a weak Turkish version of “Vorne” and a decent German product “Roto”. The price difference between them is about 60%. Calculation - for one window.

A company that installs windows with average parameters has a monthly circulation rate of 200–400 units. With the help of substitution, she can make a huge profit for herself. Clients then carry out window repairs at their own expense.

If the contract does not specify the brand of fittings involved, the client can get anything. Therefore, insist that you be provided with accurate information about the fittings used.

How to spot a fake? Turn the handle. The following signs will indicate a fake:

1. The handle turns hard.
2. The mechanism creaks or operates jerkily.

This is the presence of plastic power components instead of metal analogues. You turn the handle and they immediately bend.

Another reason for this is that the product is assembled incorrectly, or there are no screws in it.

How to Identify and Protect Against Window Scams

I clearly explain to all my clients who contact me to clarify the circumstances that neither I nor any other company will call and bother their client with a routine check of plastic windows. In case of problems, customers themselves contact us with the reason and contract number, and then, on the basis of warranty or post-warranty service, diagnose and repair windows.

There are also no city government window inspection programs. At least in Russia this is certainly true.

If you have any doubts, check the company and phone number on the Internet, and warn elderly parents not to carry out any window inspections without your consent.

In general, when faced with such calls, you can simply hang up and not check anything. If your windows are in good working order and nothing is bothering you anywhere, there is no urgent need for a check. And if you are concerned, then contact directly the company that installed them for you.

Remember, dear friends, that free cheese is only in a mousetrap. Would you like to work for “free”, providing your services and receiving nothing in return? Then why did you decide that someone else would want it? Be careful and vigilant! Sincerely, Vladimir Kozhushko.

Second method: cheating on the configuration

For example, in the contract the company prescribed a product from Roto. And the further deception is this: a product of this brand is installed, but some elements are not included in the package.

They often save on an incorrect action blocker and a counter bar.

If the first element is missing, the sash may hang. Usually this happens on the hinge at the very bottom, and when the user changes modes: swing changes to folding. In models with such modes, this element is required. This is the key to a long functional life and safety. Without it, the sash falls out of the frame.

Before purchasing and after installation, be sure to make sure that this part is included in the design.

Thanks to the second element, the sash fits tightly to the frame. Area where the striker is located: the inner body of the frame, more precisely, its perimeter. One plank is placed on each side. If the window has large parameters, the number of slats increases.

Fraudsters usually put no more than two such details. As a result, the tightness and thermal properties of the window suffer. The client is guaranteed drafts. And ice may form on areas of glass closer to the window sill.

Before acceptance, check how the handles and other fittings work!

What is the essence of the window scam?

The idea is to, under the pretext of replacing elements that have lost their service life, provide expensive repairs, which can reach the price of a new window. For example, replacing a German seal, the cost of which from the manufacturer is around 30-40 rubles. for 1 m, it will cost you 280 rubles. for 1 m. Replacing new fittings can generally cost 5 thousand, instead of the usual free adjustment. In those places where it is necessary to foam with sealant, you will be offered to completely replace the window sill and support profile. Moreover, as my clients note, they had no problems with the windows, but as they say, just in case, since it’s free, then why not. As a result, the glazing, which does not bother them, is determined by the “masters” to be in a critically difficult condition.

Moreover, scammers can carry out expensive repairs, or they can simply take money and not even provide service, fleeing the “crime scene.” As a rule, such companies are one-day companies and after the plan is completed, the individual entrepreneur or LLC is closed.

I know cases where victims tried to sue, but even here it’s not so simple. The fact is that on paper this is an officially registered company that pays taxes, does not violate laws, draws up contracts correctly, and the inflated cost of services does not apply to fraud.

About double-glazed windows

Here scammers can:

1. Use much less sealant than necessary.
2. Replace it with a cheaper analogue.
3. Instead of polyisobutylene, use double-sided adhesive tape. This occurs during the initial sealing and fastening of the glass unit.
4. Replace polysulfide with silicone sealant. This is done during the second sealing.
5. Instead of the required moisture absorber - phonosorb, use a cheap analogue, for example silica gel. It is possible to use phonosorb in very modest proportions.
6. Do not use any moisture absorber.

The glass unit must be sealed. If condensation forms on its chamber, it means it is of poor quality. You can make a claim against the installer.

Examples of fakes:

The sealing layers of a quality product can be clearly seen through the glass.

If there is a deception in the initial sealing, instead of a black layer there is a transparent one. There are also white options. The service life of such a double-glazed window is very modest. And after 2-3 years its thermal insulation will decrease significantly.

The second layer must have a density of at least 5 mm. If this parameter is less, the glass unit gradually loses its integrity.

Both layers should not have differences in thickness along the entire contour inside the window.

Also, scammers often replace double-glazed windows or do not include important components in them.

The techniques here are as follows:

1. M1 float glass is being replaced. Simple glass is installed. How to identify? Look through the glass at the nearest building or other straight object. Move your gaze from line to line. If they appear wavy or floating, it means the glass is plain.
2. The inner glass is missing. This applies to double-glazed windows with two chambers. How to identify? Light your lighter. Bring it to the window. If there are two glasses in the design, you will get two reflections. If this is not the case, it costs one glass.
3. A situation similar to point 1. Only replaceable types of glass: reinforced and energy-saving. Detection method: in plain glass the flame is reflected with a red tint. In the indicated types - with purple.
4. There is no inert gas specified in the contract. Only a spectrum analyzer can calculate this. This is an expensive device. Few people have them in their apartment.
5. Very cheap seals are used. It is impossible to visually calculate the substitution.

About slopes

To produce high-quality slopes, our specialists use insulated sandwich panels. Their density is 1 cm. They are free of fungal formations. This material has good rigidity and thermal properties. During installation, we seal the joint areas with liquid plastic. Its structure is similar to PVC. It has no color differences from the profile. And no cracks appear on it.

If slopes are made in pursuit of savings, liquid plastic is replaced with silicone. And after 2-4 weeks it turns black and falls off.

Sandwich panels are being replaced with wall products. They are very cold and of modest quality. The joints are sealed with a weak sealant. Result: terrible appearance of the window, reduced energy efficiency, and the appearance of fungus.

Due to such violations, the client exposes himself to serious expenses and risks his safety.

Reinforcement

The plastic profile does not need to be reinforced. Otherwise it will become deformed. And the window will become unusable.

According to production standards, the metal element is used only in the structure of the structure.

Mandatory criteria:

1. The metal profile has anti-corrosion protection.
2. Lowest closed section density: 1.5-2 mm. At least two screws go into it. This guarantees the retention of the sash. Under such conditions it will not sag.

Methods of deceivers:

1. Sectional density from 0.75 to 1.2 mm.
2. The metal used is prone to corrosion.
3. There is no closed configuration in the reinforcement. It has a U-shape.
4. Reinforcement only in certain areas, for example, at turns and imposts.
5. The use of a short or composite metal profile.
6. No reinforcement. New buildings are often glazed with such products.

Methods for detecting deception:

.1. Run the magnet over the frame and sash. If it does not stick to them, it means there is no metal profile and the product does not meet the standards.

1. Distance of screws from each other. They go along the end of the frame. In a metal profile this distance is 30 cm. In a regular profile it is 50 cm. Unscrew any of these screws. If it does not unscrew, this is an imitation of compliance with technological standards.

About the assembly

The assembly line of plastic windows must be fully equipped. Highly qualified personnel must work here. All this implies powerful investments and expenses. Only a reputable organization can allow this.

Modest companies do not have the equipment for many tasks, such as adjusting fittings and analyzing build quality. Results:

- the window has incorrect geometry,

- the window is leaking,

- rapid breakdown of fittings.

It is very difficult to identify these violations visually. You need to ask the installer for information about the manufacturer. If it is a modest local company, the likelihood of these problems is high.

You should also find out where the product is manufactured.

Poor quality installation

Even the highest quality window will not live up to expectations if the installation is carried out in violation of the technology.

To check this, we recommend being present on site during installation. Better yet, read the contract carefully. If the warranty is only on the structure, there is a chance that the installation is not carried out by the organization that sells you the windows. Eliminating the consequences of poor-quality installation will be difficult and expensive, because usually in such a situation you are dealing with an outsourcing team that, according to documents, does not owe you anything.

"Window Master" has trained teams of installers on its staff who regularly undergo certification. We guarantee our work, and if something goes wrong, we will fix the problem at our own expense.

For installation work

If the proposed product meets quality standards, its advantages can be spoiled by disgusting installation. Be sure to pay attention to the materials that workers use.

For example, we use special polyurethane foam, such as Titan. It is ideal for translucent products. Therefore, workers must use this foam or its analogues.

We protect the foam from ultraviolet radiation using PSUL. This is a special vapor-tight sealing tape. It removes moisture from the foam.

We protect PSUL from the sun with external slopes or coverings.

If these methods are not used in the work, the following possible results:

When accepting, be sure to:

1. Open the door. There must be metal plates at the end on all or at least three sides. Their absence is a sign of metal fittings with plastic components. Or it's all plastic. Its service life is very modest. Often it does not reach the end of the warranty period.
2. Close the window and examine the seal. It is concentrated along the entire perimeter. If it does not fit tightly or there are cracks, you are guaranteed a draft in cold weather.

Even when closing the window, the high-quality seal shrinks. And the fake is pressed only against the frame. It does not protect against frost.

I always advise you to personally observe the installation process.

Production technologies

Buyers are often perplexed why some offer expensive windows and others offer cheap ones, while the equipment is the same. Here it is worth asking the question of who is in front of you - the manufacturer or the dealer. A good window cannot be made without good components and without automated production, which has adopted regulatory documents and complied with window production technologies. When choosing a company to which you will entrust the installation of windows, give preference to the one that has its own production. Such companies open for more than one season and have a long history.

Dealers do not invest in improving production; they buy and resell finished products. The natural desire of such a company is to buy cheaper and sell more expensive, so there is a high risk of receiving a low-quality product.

Pricing policy and discounts

Each order is unique in its parameters. But often companies announce the cost of standard products

Buyers need to know the standard window data:

A mosquito net is also included in the package.

Fraudsters try to simplify the packaging. Methods:

1. There is no mosquito net in the price tag.
2. The window sill is reduced in width.
3. The glass formula is 4-10-4. They are generally not allowed to glaze residential premises in central Russia.

As for discounts, this is only a loss for the company. So-called discounts are just a marketing tactic. Its goal is to lure a buyer.

Discount parameters may appear in elements not specified in the estimate. For example, at low tides. Often discounts are offset by very high price tags for components.

I recommend that clients contact companies that do not offer discounts. Most often, their orders are more profitable.

Guarantee period

To lure customers, scammers often claim a 25-year warranty period. But the contract specifies a period of 1-3 years.

And here the client is not completely deceived. After all, each window element has its own manufacturer and service period. For example, a high-quality profile can last 15 years. Fittings – 10. Double-glazed windows – 25.

And the advertisement states only a guarantee for one element, and not for the whole product.

Carefully study the contract and the terms of the warranty period!

Incomplete information during consultation

Many window companies deliberately lower prices in order to look more advantageous in comparison with competitors. But as soon as you order glazing from them, unexpected surcharges immediately appear.

To make the calculation, you need to know the dimensions of the opening, the profile model, the type of double-glazed window, the size and material of the window sill, the configuration of the sashes, the opening mechanism, and additional options. Many clients do not think about such little things in advance and are happy to hear an approximate price, not expecting that it will end up being 30-50% more. An unscrupulous contractor will not warn that the price may increase.

We always honestly inform our clients what the window price consists of, we name the amount only after measurements and fix it in the contract.

Additional recommendations

If you are planning a global change of windows in your apartment, carry it out systematically. If a mistake is made with one product, it is not a tragedy. But if you are deceived with all the designs, you will have to change them. And these are colossal expenses.

If a product has more sealing contours, you should not pay extra for it. This factor does not affect the occurrence of drafts.

If you live in the middle zone, you need to buy a profile with a density of 5.8 - 6 cm. A more reliable option: 6.8 - 8.4 cm. And it is advisable to equip it with a denser double-glazed window. Such products are produced by companies: VEKA, KBE and REHAU. The differences in price are insignificant. And the result is effective.

There is no need to agree to offers with a multi-camera profile. This has little effect.

A budget double-glazed window has this special feature: the area of ​​the frame is significantly smaller than the area of ​​the glass. And significant amounts of heat are eliminated through the glass.

The best option for an apartment is a three-chamber profile. More serious models (4-6 chambers) are logical to use in houses with an individual heating system.

Don't ignore energy-saving glass. They are slightly more expensive than regular options. But they help effectively retain heat in the room.

Take care of plastic windows. Clean and lubricate the seal at least 3-4 times a year. Suitable lubricants: petroleum jelly and silicone grease.

It is also necessary to lubricate and adjust the fittings. It is better to entrust this work to specialists.

Not all window companies are deceivers. But there is a lot of money in this area. And it is very difficult to find a reliable company. And in some situations, it is impossible to figure out the catch without special knowledge and technology.

Fraudsters offer pensioners replacement windows

The publication in which we talked about those who inquire about benefits received a wide response. Citizens tell us about frequent visits regarding plastic windows. Who's walking again?

"You are now at home?"

“My mother is 80 years old. She lives in an apartment alone. And this is not the first time that certain people knock on her apartment and do not introduce themselves, do not give their first, last, or patronymic names. They simply say: “We are from a city organization,” Irina Vasilievna . - What do they offer? Replace plastic windows, free of charge. I visit my mother often and sternly warn her: “Do not open the door to strangers, open only to me or one of your relatives.” But older people are gullible, and I have no confidence that my mother will not open the door to strangers next time. In her house, the neighbor downstairs is also aged. The children wrote on his door from inside the apartment: “Dad, don’t open the door to strangers!” And what? If you knock on Pyotr Ivanovich, he will immediately open the door.”

Irina Vasilyevna said that her mother received her first phone call on February 7th. The very next day, a local police officer went through the apartments and warned the residents that the “plastic windows” were scammers. A week later, on February 14, the bell rang again in the mother’s apartment. It’s good that Irina Vasilievna was with her mother and answered the phone. But the woman on the other end of the line was not at all embarrassed, nor were the questions asked. “Where did you get your landline number?” No answer. "Who you are?" - “I represent a city organization.” - “Which one?” No answer. And everything is in the same spirit.

“What surprised me: a lady from the “city organization” offered to replace the plastic windows in the apartment. But my mother doesn’t have them. She generally adheres to the fact that wooden ones are better, they “breathe”, and does not want to change the windows, says Irina Vasilievna . “Moreover, a neighbor called and said that right now some people were walking around the apartments. I looked out the window and saw two big guys coming out of the entrance. People are strangers, but in our entrance everyone knows each other. Explain who this is? If they are scammers, how can you protect yourself from them?

And this is not the only complaint about unknown persons who either call or visit apartments.

“There are a lot of such calls, they happen often,” says Elizaveta Andreevna . — The last incident occurred on February 18. A certain Olga calls me and offers to change the plastic windows in the apartment. Moreover, she claims that her company installed these windows for me. And I remember well that I called a master I knew. He installed windows in my apartment and in my sister's apartment. What does a “city enterprise” have to do with it? The question also alerted me: “Are you at home now? If yes, then our master will come to you now.” This Olga called me on my work phone. To be honest, I didn’t have time, so I cut off the conversation dryly and abruptly. And then I thought: what was that?”

Let's give another example.

“The other day there was a knock on my neighbor’s door. She is 79 years old and lives alone,” Anna Filippovna tells Rechi. “They say: “Open the door, we’ll replace your plastic windows.” Well, her daughter-in-law came to visit her, but they didn’t open the door.”

By the way, my neighbor doesn’t have a single plastic window in her apartment. So who is it?

Maintain personal safety

Do the police receive complaints about people calling on the phone, knocking on the door, asking for something, and introducing themselves vaguely? And what should you do to protect yourself?

Ekaterina Kubyshkina, press secretary of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Cherepovets, answered these questions:

“In 2022, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for Cherepovets registered one complaint regarding a similar situation. An elderly woman allowed an employee of a “service organization” into the apartment. After inspecting the windows, the man said that some parts needed to be changed. The trusting woman followed the lead and entered into an agreement to perform work in the amount of 8,000 rubles, and made an advance payment of 1,500 rubles. The man said that workers would come soon and fulfill the order. But on the specified day, representatives of the “organization” never came. The woman’s relative contacted the police.”

For reference: scammers can call and introduce themselves as employees of a window company or a company related to the management company, offering to carry out free preventive maintenance or diagnostics of windows. After a telephone conversation and obtaining the client’s consent, a technician comes to perform window maintenance. With knowledge of the matter, he will look, tweak something, study, and then begin to assert that the window requires repair. For example, this could be replacing a seal that causes a draft, or replacing fittings.

Fraudsters value their “work” at several thousand rubles, although in reality, for example, replacing a seal on one window costs on average 500 rubles plus payment for the work of a specialist. If a person nevertheless succumbed to the persuasion of such a “master” and made an advance payment, and then changed his mind and decided to refuse, then he will not be able to return the money, since the contract states that the deposit is not refundable.

Remember: window companies do not call and offer to do free window maintenance unless they are your installing company. Window prevention is not included in any program - be it city, regional or any other. If they call you and introduce themselves as an employee of the company that installed your windows, call the number indicated in your contract yourself and make sure that the call was from this particular window company.

Gullible people, often pensioners, fall for such tricks. And to prevent such cases of deception, talk more often with your elderly relatives about various types of fraud, warn them about the possible consequences. If you believe that you have become a victim of fraud, immediately report this to the police by calling 02 or 112.

Where to contact

If they called you, sent you an SMS, knocked on the door of your apartment and you think that you have become a victim of scammers, immediately report this to the police by calling 02 or 112.

Window companies don't call people and offer free window maintenance unless it's your installation company. There is no city window prevention program.

Tatiana Kovacheva