Dan Powell, head of brand at VBH, explains the company’s direct guarantees and how they benefit everybody in the supply chain.

VBH has been supplying hardware to the UK since 1978, launching our own hardware brand, GreenteQ, in 2009.

GreenteQ products are tested to the relevant performance standards for both security and lifespan and all are fully guaranteed.

We have now created three ‘direct to homeowner’ guarantees based on testing and real-life experience.

The first direct guarantee was Q-secure, which promises to pay the homeowner if a successful break in is achieved as a direct result of the failure of our hardware.

As our product range has evolved, so has the Q-secure guarantee, firstly in 2020 when the maximum payment was increased to £8,000.

Since then, we have added many new products for approved fabricators to choose from, including GreenteQ iQ window and door locking systems.

Windows and doors fitted with iQ locks can be linked via a Kubu home hub to a new or existing smart home network. This means that the user can check on the open/closed/locked status of their windows and doors, set up reminders to close them, and receive tamper alerts. The installation can also be connected to other elements of the network, including lighting and alarms for example.

This year sees a further enhancement to Q-secure. Approved installers fitting windows and doors geared with iQ locks can offer the Q-secure Premium Plus level of cover, with an increased maximum payment of £9,000.

The success of Q-secure prompted us to introduce the ProteQ10 guarantee when we introduced the GreenteQ Orion TS007 3-star profile cylinder in 2022.

ProteQ10 will pay the end user £2,000 if the Orion snaps in the door, and allows a successful break in. The cylinder must be registered directly with VBH. This is easy for the homeowner as Orion comes with a QR code that directs them to the ‘Activate Guarantee’ page of the bespoke ProteQ10 website. The stripped-back website is a portal for the homeowner as they would use it to make a claim, and it also contains details of where to obtain additional keys if required, although each Orion is supplied with five keys as standard!

In addition to registering for the snap guarantee and performance guarantees, end users are prompted at the registration page to set a personal security code. Once set, additional keys can only be purchased online when that code is given.

We introduced our third homeowner guarantee this year. It’s the GreenteQ Furniture Guarantee.

Until now, we have offered a 10-year performance and surface guarantee on our GreenteQ suite of matching door and window furniture, with the surface element of our ArchiteQ stainless steel range increasing to 25 years.

Real time experience, combined with impressive salt spray test results, have led us to increase the surface guarantee for GreenteQ Suite products to 20 years across all 10 finishes and all products.

In addition, qualifying fabricators have access to the enhanced guarantee, which means that their homeowner customers can register their installation with VBH and in the event of an issue, they claim directly with us. VBH will sort out the replacement part directly with them, meaning the fabricator and installer no longer have the hassle of attending costly call outs to deal with reported pitting issues on furniture.

Yes, we have dived very deeply into the ‘guarantee pool’, but we are confident that we will receive very few genuine claims, if any, and we believe that everyone in the supply chain benefits.

The homeowner buys with confidence, knowing that if something goes wrong, the hardware company has guaranteed that they will put it right. The installer company can sell on quality, not solely on price, which earns them more money, so they reward their fabricator with more business. The fabricator, in turn, buys more Q-secure, ProteQ10 and suited hardware from VBH.

It’s no secret that we’re all in business to sell as much as we can, so we all win.