New windows or doors are a big spend, so it’s only right that you take your time, ask questions and compare a few quotes. Most installers in Norfolk and Suffolk will give you exactly that. Sadly, double glazing still has a reputation for pushy selling, and a small number of firms keep it going with tactics designed to get a signature on the night rather than the right job at a fair price.

We’ve been fitting windows, doors and conservatories across East Anglia for 30 years, and we know how off-putting a high-pressure sales visit can be: the appointment that runs on all evening, or the price that suddenly halves after “a quick call to my manager”. So we’ve refreshed this guide to help you spot the warning signs, know your rights, and recognise what a fair, no-pressure quote should look like, whoever you choose.

The sales tactics to watch out for

Price conditioning

Before you’ve been given a price, a salesperson asks, “What were you hoping to spend?” or “What’s your budget?” It sounds helpful, but it’s often used to anchor your expectations and work out how much they can charge. Which? specifically warns about this. A good adviser listens to what you need, measures up, and then tells you what it costs.

Inflated “starting” prices and big, sudden reductions

This one goes hand in hand with price conditioning. You’re shown a very high figure first, then the price drops dramatically, so the “discounted” price feels like a bargain even when it isn’t. Be wary of quotes described as “from £xx”, too; they rarely match the final bill.

The “call to the manager” price drop

The salesperson steps outside to phone the office and comes back with a special price, provided you sign now. Which?’s Trusted Traders put it bluntly: reputable companies offer their best price first time. If a firm can suddenly knock thousands off after you hesitate, it’s fair to ask why that wasn’t the price in the first place.

“Today only” or “sign tonight” discounts

“This price is only valid if you sign before I leave.” It’s designed to stop you comparing quotes or sleeping on it. Genuine seasonal offers with clear end dates, open to everyone, are normal in our industry. A discount that only exists while the salesperson is sitting on your sofa is a different thing. Since April 2025, falsely claiming that a price or offer is only available for a limited time, to push you into an immediate decision, has been on the UK’s list of banned commercial practices under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

Pressure to sign on the night

Long appointments, repeated “trial closes”, and making you feel awkward for wanting time to think: all of these are pressure, not service. You should never feel you have to sign anything at the first visit.

Pushy follow-ups

A courtesy call to check you’ve received your quote is fine. Daily calls, “final final” offers by text, or turning up unannounced are not. If you’ve said no, that should be the end of it.

Vague quotes

A quote that says “6 windows – £X” doesn’t tell you much. You should be able to see what’s being supplied and fitted, the frame material and colour, the glass specification, the hardware, whether removal and disposal of old frames is included, any making-good, and what the guarantee covers. If it isn’t on paper, it isn’t in the price.

Large deposit demands

It’s normal to pay a deposit for made-to-measure products, and many installers, us included, take staged payments: a deposit when you order, a further payment once your products have been manufactured, and the balance on completion. What to be wary of is a large sum demanded upfront, especially on the spot. Which? advises keeping a deposit to a small percentage of the total price, and checking that it’s protected and that there’s an insurance-backed guarantee in place.

Your rights if you sign at home

The rules are worth knowing before anyone sits down at your table.

• Contracts agreed at home usually come with a 14-day cooling-off period. Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, if you agree a contract away from the business’s premises, for example at your home, you normally have 14 days to change your mind. For work like installation, Citizens Advice says the cooling-off period starts the day after you give the go-ahead.
• But made-to-measure products are an exception. Citizens Advice notes that you don’t automatically get a cooling-off period for things made specially for you, and it names windows and conservatories as examples. Some firms give a cooling-off period voluntarily. So before you sign, ask exactly what the cancellation terms are and get them in writing.
• The firm has to give you the cancellation information. If you do have a cooling-off period and the business doesn’t tell you how to cancel, it is extended by up to 12 months.
• Starting work early can cost you. If you ask for work to begin during the cooling-off period and then cancel, you may have to pay for the part already done.
• Paying by credit card adds protection. If any part of the cost is paid by credit card and the item costs more than £100 and no more than £30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act may let you claim from your card provider if things go wrong.

If you feel you were misled or pressured into a contract, Citizens Advice’s consumer helpline (0808 223 1133) can talk you through your options.

What a fair quote in East Anglia looks like

Whoever you invite round, this is the standard you should expect:

1. A proper survey before a firm price. Openings measured, existing frames, brickwork and ventilation checked. A firm price without a survey should raise eyebrows.
2. A clear, itemised written quote, so you can compare it like for like with others.
3. Time to think. The same price next week as tonight.
4. Clear payment terms: how much deposit, when any stage payments and the balance are due, and what happens if you cancel.
5. The right paperwork. For replacement windows and doors, the work needs to meet Building Regulations. Ask how the sign-off will be handled.
6. A guarantee in writing, with what’s covered and for how long.

How we do things at Amber

We’re not the only honest installer in East Anglia, and we’d never knock the competition to win your business. But this is how we work, so you know exactly what to expect from us.

• No hard sell. Our quotes are free and come with no obligation. You’ll get our proper price first time, not an inflated one that magically drops.
• A no-pressure survey and a clear written quote. We’ll measure up, talk through the options and put everything in writing, so you can compare us side by side with anyone else.
• Come and see before you decide. Our Norwich showroom at Hellesdon Park is open seven days a week. Pop in for a browse or book a showroom appointment, open and close the windows and doors, and ask our advisers anything, with no pressure.
• Our Price Promise. If you have a like-for-like written quote from a local competitor, read our Price Promise to see how we’ll respond.
• Proof, not promises. We’ve been trading for 30 years, we’re a GGF member, we’re rated 4.6 out of 5 on Google, and our 20-year guarantee backs the work.

If you’re comparing products, our windows range covers everything from uPVC windows to aluminium windows and flush casement windows, all on display in the showroom.

You can also see what we’ve done for other customers. Recently that includes replacing windows and fire exit doors at Horsford CofE VA Primary School and turning a garage into a bright living space with cladding and bi-folds in Drayton. There’s also an Ultraroof rear extension in Woodbridge.

A quick checklist: questions to ask any installer

Print this off or keep it on your phone for every appointment.

• Is this price based on a full survey, and is it the final price?
• Will the price still stand if I take a week to decide?
• Can I have an itemised written quote, including fitting, removal of old frames and making good?
• What exactly are the glass, frame and hardware specifications?
• How much deposit do you need, when are the other payments due, and is my deposit protected?
• What are your cancellation terms, and can I see them in writing before I sign?
• Who will fit the windows, your own team or subcontractors?
• How will Building Regulations compliance be handled for replacement windows and doors?
• What does your guarantee cover, for how long, and is it insurance-backed?
• Can I see recent local jobs, or speak to past customers?
• Do you have a showroom I can visit?

If a salesperson won’t give you straight answers to these, that tells you most of what you need to know.

Take your time, it’s your home

The right installer will be happy for you to compare, ask questions and decide in your own time. If you’d like a no-pressure quote from us, request a free quote, call 01603 672638, or drop into our Norwich showroom at Unit 52, Hellesdon Park Road, NR6 5DR. We’ll put the kettle on.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for a double glazing salesperson to ask me to sign on the night?

It happens, but it isn’t something you should feel pressured into. A reputable installer will give you a written quote and let you take your time, compare it with others and decide when you’re ready. If a price is only available “if you sign tonight”, treat that as a warning sign.

Do I get a 14-day cooling-off period if I sign a double glazing contract at home?

Contracts agreed at home usually come with a 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. However, Citizens Advice says you don’t automatically get one for made-to-measure products such as windows and conservatories, although some firms offer one voluntarily. Always ask for the cancellation terms in writing before you sign.

How much deposit should I pay for new windows?

There’s no fixed legal figure, but Which? advises that a deposit should be no more than a small percentage of the total price. Many installers, including us, take staged payments: a deposit when you order, a further payment once your products are manufactured, and the balance on completion. Check what happens to your deposit if you cancel and whether it’s protected. Paying part by credit card can also give you Section 75 protection on items over £100.

Why do some double glazing prices drop so much during the appointment?

Usually because the first price was inflated so that a big “discount” feels like a bargain. Which? warns against high opening prices that fall during a sales visit and “call the manager” deals. A fair installer gives you their proper price first time.

Can I see Amber’s windows and doors before I get a quote?

Yes. Our Norwich showroom at Unit 52, Hellesdon Park Road, NR6 5DR is open seven days a week, so you can see and try the products and talk to our advisers with no pressure. Our quotes are free and there’s no obligation to buy.