The Bathroom Window.

Many years ago, our bathroom window jammed, in fact this year November will be three years. There was no other vent for air to come in or go out. Our bathroom suffered. Over the years, I had asked a few people, “Would you be able to fix it?” Or “Do you know anyone who would fix it for us?” The answer to both my questions was, always “No.”

Then last week, my Husband Paul said to me, “Can you phone a Company to come and fix the bathroom window?” I decided to text some of my friends and asked them, “Is there a Company you can recommend to do our bathroom window?” Within minutes the same local Company name was mentioned. I thanked them. One friend mentioned, “They also did our kitchen and they were cheap.”

Now that did surprise me as I didn’t expect a window company to also do kitchens, I would have thought they can’t possibly do many kitchens, for I wouldn’t think of ringing up a window company and ask them, “Can you put in a new kitchen for me?” For I would expect them then to reply, “We do windows Madam, as it says in our company name.”

The following day I rang the Company, and asked, “Can one of your Sales Person come and give me a quote for my bathroom window?” I was told, “Yes of course, can I have your name and address?” I then asked, “Do you do kitchens too?” And her reply was, “We certainly do.” I then asked, “Can I also have a quote on a new kitchen at the same time?” It was all arranged and Rory would be arriving at noon the following day.

Rory arrived, he was smartly dressed, I was surprised he didn’t have a mask on, I intended to wear mine, I didn’t put mine on, as I thought he might think I was rude. But I felt instantly as easy with. It’s true what they say, first impressions count.

He measured our bathroom window then I told him what I would like in the kitchen, I said, “We need a new cooker, and can we have a dishwasher?” He had big dreams for us and was putting cupboards where we didn’t have before as our ceiling is high, and making use of the small spaces, he would put slim, spice cupboards there. He was full of life and it rubbed off on me, and I began to feel like there was real hope, for change.

Rory asked, “What do you do for a living?” I told him, he was really impressed, and he said, “I want to do something very special for you.” And he added, “I’m excited.” I must admit inside, I was getting excited too. Then Rory said, “I will go back to the office and do my plans. Including the back door, we would be also having two other new doors in the kitchen, and a new front door, it was adding up. Did I mention we would be having a new tiled kitchen floor? Rory asked, “What colour would you like your kitchen units?” I replied, “I assume white is the cheapest, so I will have white,” Rory said, “Not anymore, there are lovely colours now on offer.” He went on, “There is a wide choice of colours.” I said, “As we have dogs, I will have darker colours, you can choose, I don’t mind what colour it is.”  After measuring everything and doing his hand drawn design he said, “I will contact you later on today, with colours and a price.” He than asked, “How will you be paying?” I said, “A few years ago I was in a car accident, so I would pay you from my account to the Company’s account.” He replied with a broad smile, “Great.”

Soon after he went back to his office, I received a mobile, text photo of a wonderful light grey modern kitchen with pine coloured kitchen tops and light cream painted walls.

An hour later the phone rang, it was Rory, he asked, “Can I come over, I have colours I think you will love and the price.” I said, “Yes, I can’t wait.”

Paul had now joined us, but he would just listen as it was, I sorting it all out. His fantastic, excitement of our dream kitchen carried on, as Rory showed us the now dark table tops and the wonderful grey units with the light coloured walls and waist high spotlights all around the kitchen, and the one larger light above, rather than the two we have now, it was all very good. I chose the new front door, as I didn’t like the one, he’d chosen. Then he told us, “The deposit will be £3,000,” Which I knew that before he left the first time, then he said, “Then every month you will pay £200 plus,” But I didn’t hear what the plus was as I said, “Well how long will we pay the £200 for?” Rory replied, “Ten years,” I said, “Well how much is it all together?” He said, “£18,000,” I said, “EIGHTEEN THOUSAND POUNDS!?” He said, “Yes.”  I looked at Rory stunned, was an understatement and after a few seconds I said, “OK,” At this point Paul marched out of the room! I signed the contract.

Rory would come back on Tuesday and set up the direct debit, and I would pay the £3,000 then.

But as the evening worn on, that night I started to shake, in fear and panic, I knew I was in shock! This carried on for hours, and would not go away, what had I done? Paul and I didn’t talk about it. Not a word.

The following day, it was my first thought. There was a battle in my mind, for and against. I spoke to our Daughter Meghan about it, I said, “I have changed my mind, shall I wait until Paul wakes up and see what he thinks or text Rory now and tell him I now don’t want the kitchen as it’s far too expensive?” Meghan said, “Why not phone him, but do it now.” I said, “No, it has to be in a text, or he will persuade me to go ahead with it, but in a text he can’t,” I went on, “Some Sales Assistants could sell sand to the Arabs.” *

I started my text, “Thank you for showing me my dream kitchen,” It was a very long text, but in it I said, “I can’t stop shaking, I know I am in shock, I retire in less than 10 years, and we live in a very unstable time at the moment, and 10 years is not fair to my unemployed Husband and kids.” I told him of the con man that tricked us into have solar panels that cost thirteen grand, when it should have been free, I finished by saying, “If I win the lottery I would pay it all off in one go, as I don’t like to have debts.” Meghan checked it and tweaked it and add a tad more, she then read it back to me and when we were both happy, she pressed send.

Now I’ve watched enough Judge Judy, where she shows them their paper and puts her hand all around it, while saying, “This is the contract, anything that is not on this paper is not.” Now the man who tricked us with the solar panels, changed from been nice to horrible, when he realized we had finally found out that we would be paying for it for 21 years! So, would Rory change and be horrible? He would be justified, but I said, to Meghan, “In this country there is always a cooling off period, it last 14 days after a contract is signed.”

In less than a minute I got a text back from Rory, my heart missed a beat, as I read it, he said, “I’m about to go out, but don’t worry.” But I was still worried, as I’d signed a contract, then he texts me back and said, “Grace, do you want me to pop round and see you and discuss it? Firstly, you are under no pressure and the last thing I will be doing is giving you any stress or pressure. I hate that you were worried and feel bad as that’s the last thing I wanted. I can sort the window for you and door if you want, so that can be in budget. In regards to the kitchen I tried to make the dream a reality as you are so lovely and wanted you to have the WOW moment. I do appreciate budgets though and knew you didn’t have the money, there and then, that was why I asked if the monthly payment was affordable to you. The last thing I would ever want is to put you under a financial constraint, we can discuss the project and talk realistically about what is what and what we can do. Then see what options and cost that is?”

I replied, “Hi Rory, I just want the bathroom window quote for now, thank you for your quick reply and being understanding.” He replied, “No problem at all.” I said, “Thank you Rory.” Rory said, “The bathroom window will be £495.” Then his next text said, “Grace, please don’t worry about the kitchen. I can confirm you have cancelled it and that there is no finance or anything to pay or for you to worry about.” What a great guy!

I told Rory, “I can afford that and can pay it in one payment.” He texts back, “I will need to pop round and get the paperwork signed for that, if it’s OK.” I said, “Rory, a MASSIVE thank you.” His reply was still even more amazing when he said, “You have nothing to thank me for at all, I just want you to be happy and relax, as long as we have our families love, health, happiness and less stress then everything else in life, we can cope with.” I said, SO true, especially with the Coronavirus, I actually wondered who would make it to the other side of it safely.”

I hadn’t planned on giving the Company any feedback, after I had signed the contract, nor would I recommend them but after the bathroom window is fitted, Rory will have the best feedback ever!!

He is more than a Sales Person, he is genuine.

* If, sell sand to the Arabs is not appropriate, let me know and I will remove it.