Following new research conducted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which reveals that over half (54%) of businesses surveyed are unsure of the law on unfair contract terms, the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) is emphasising the importance of ensuring terms and conditions included in contracts are fair and enforceable.
Ensuring consumers can be held to what they signed in difficult situations – for example, a customer’s last minute cancellation – terms and conditions offer businesses an important means of protection, however, in order to be enforceable they must be considered fair. The ability to judge the fairness of contract terms is therefore essential for businesses, allowing them to save the time and money involved in disputes with customers as well as protecting their company’s reputation.
In line with the worrying lack of awareness of fair contract terms indicated by the new figures, APHC is reminding industry members that they can strengthen their understanding of all areas of contracts by simply enrolling on its online course Contracts for Beginners.
As well as providing essential information on what terms and conditions are, where they should be displayed and their importance, this business development solution also offers advice on the difference between on and off premises contracts, business contracts and documents linked to pricing and payments, with downloadable models for implementation within installers’ day-to-day business transactions.
Tailored specifically for members of the plumbing and heating industry, APHC’s online courses are packed with real-life examples and interactive exercises, allowing installation companies to gain knowledge that’s truly relevant to their day-to-day work. All industry members need to do to enrol is visit www.courses.aphc.co.uk/, register as a new user and begin gaining essential knowledge on contracts straight away!
Graeme Dryden, Technical Services Manager at APHC, commented: “As well as being unpleasant experiences, disputes with customers can be extremely costly for small businesses, which is why it’s essential that plumbing and heating companies ensure they are fully in the know when it comes to what constitutes fair terms and conditions. Providing examples of unfair contract terms and how to avoid them, Contracts for Beginners provides important information to help your installation business stay on the right side of the law.”
