KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
We strongly recommend viewing KBzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Harvey Jones Kitchens becomes Full Member of The Furniture Ombudsman
The Furniture Ombudsman, which aims to inspire consumer confidence in the furniture industry by raising standards and improving service, has added Harvey Jones Kitchens to its growing list of Full Members.
Harvey Jones Kitchens has been making kitchens from its Cambridgeshire workshop for more than 30 years and in that time the company has designed and crafted more than 15,000 hand-made kitchens. It now has 26 kitchen showrooms across the UK and plans to open more. Its philosophy is to offer understated, premium-quality cabinetry, combined with the best in thoughtful design and service, whilst always offering exceptional value for money. All kitchens are designed and made to order, unique to the needs of their owners.
"Harvey Jones Kitchens is proud to be a member of the Furniture Ombudsman," says John Curwen, the company's Managing Director. "This membership is another example of how we communicate our commitment to service and manufacturing every step of the way, starting with our customer charter, which is displayed in every showroom.
"We are now able to offer further reassurance through the option of support from an independent dispute resolution organisation, recognised by the Trading Standards Institute and European Commission, should any issue arise."
Jon Walters, Service Delivery Manager for The Furniture Ombudsman says: "We are very pleased to welcome Harvey Jones Kitchens to our list of Full Members. When purchasing from a registered Member of The Furniture Ombudsman, consumers benefit from additional assurance that they will be treated fairly by the retailer. This in turn helps raise standards within the industry as a whole and increases the confidence of consumers purchasing from registered members of the scheme."
The Furniture Ombudsman is an independent, non-statutory body which is regulated by a voluntary Standards Board. It specialises in providing Alternative Dispute Resolution solutions for consumers and retailers in the furniture and home improvement industry. It also aims to raise standards, improve service and inspire consumer confidence.
TFO currently has a pool of members which extends to approximately 4,500 furniture and home improvement outlets in the UK. All of its Full Members pledge to abide by a Code of Practice which bestows additional rights on the consumers who shop with them. Most of the UK's biggest furniture and home improvement retailers pledge their support for the scheme.
All of the Ombudsman's case workers are professionally qualified by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and it is overseen by an independent Standards Board which is chaired by Guy Pratt, Assistant Director of Community Protection for Hertfordshire County Council and chair of the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO).
The Furniture Ombudsman was established 20 years ago with the Office of Fair Trading and works in partnership with other organisations such as Trading Standards. It is recognised by the European Commission as a provider of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the UK and is recognised as a complaint handler by the British and Irish Ombudsman Association. The Furniture Ombudsman is a Corporate Affiliate Member of the Trading Standards Institute.
T: 01438 777790
E: [email protected]
W: www.thefurnitureombudsman.org
7th December 2012