DIY mums left fuming after Anglian Home Improvements window salesman ‘tells them to consult with their husbands on what HIS budget is’
Kate Richards and Laura Davidson were overseeing separate renovations when they called double-glazing firm Anglian Home for a quote
TWO DIY-savvy mums claim "sexist" salesmen suggested they should check with their husbands before buying new windows.
Kate Richards and Laura Davidson, both from London, had been overseeing separate renovations when they called double-glazing firm Anglian Home for a quote.
Kate, 34, claims it was an example of "everyday sexism" when an employee allegedly asked if a man was home to "decide" on the work being done.
She then found out that her pal Laura claimed to have had a similar experience with the same company two months earlier.
Laura, 38, alleges that during a quote for new windows, the employee suggested she would want to "consult with the Mr on what his budget is".
Kate, a solicitor, said: "It's that kind of thing where when it happens, you're not quite sure how to react.
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"At what point do you say it is ridiculous and refuse to buy from them?
"It's unconnected to the window and I'd already paid. I want those windows, so why should I be inconvenienced as a result of his comments?"
The mum-of-two went ahead with the work on her own despite the comments.
She says the company put the contract for the window fitting work in her husband's name, despite never dealing with him – and told her they had to do that "because she is married".
Kate said: "Sometimes it's easier to just let it go and not be pedantic about it, but afterwards I thought about it and called the store manager.
"The worst thing was he didn't seem to understand why I was shocked.
"He just told me it doesn't matter and that they did it because I was married.
"I know that I can't sign on behalf of my husband, so if they say there's a problem with the contract, I can say well we don't have one.
"It's dangerous to make assumptions that someone is married or heterosexual. I was incredulous."
Her friend Laura had been planning a full house renovation when she also contacted Anglian about arranging a quote for new windows earlier this year.
But she decided not to use the company as a result of the employee's alleged comments about "consulting the Mr".
Laura said: "Unfortunately, Anglian are not the only company that have done this to me.
"I have had the same thing with other tradespeople last year.
"We've been renovating the house over the last 12 months and I've been dealing with the tradespeople. You get people making these kinds of assumptions quite often.
"He was asking if I worked, what I did, what my husband did for a living. It's none of his business.
"Then I told him my husband worked in IT and he said 'he'll be quite well off then'.
"He left me some information for my husband when he wanted to make the decision.
"That night when my husband came home, we decided we wouldn't be using them.
"I just think people need to realise that in this day and age, women are more than capable of running households and businesses and making important financial decisions.
"What Anglian are doing is alienating their market and putting off 50 per cent of the population."
Anglian Home Improvements said: "When meeting with and presenting designs to prospective customers, it is a standard procedure to ask whether both parties, if they are a couple, will be present due to the number of options and designs to be discussed.
"We fully appreciate it is not always possible for both parties to be available and many of our meetings and presentations are with one person, not two.
"We have been working closely with our customers to fulfil their order with us but can only apologise that an error has impacted their experience on this occasion."
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