Claiming for faulty product and damage caused

MaryP2506

Hi

Does anyone know what we are entitled to claim on the following incident:

My partner purchased a bag to strap on to his motorbike (cost around £100 so a good quality bag).

He strapped the bag on as instructed with items in the bag including a laptop - the bag was loaded under capacity.

The bag broke while travelling down the M6 - the strapping clearly has unstitched and resulted in it becoming loose and falling off the bike.

The lap top as a result is damaged beyond repair (it cost £2700 10 month ago). He has since purchased a new one because he needs it for his work.

He is entitled to claim back on the value of the bag because it was not fit for purpose; does anyone know if he is also entitled legally to claim for the cost of the laptop? Also do we claim against the retailer we purchased the bag from or the bag manufacturer?

Thanks

paddyrg

Ouch! I suspect you may have a hard time getting the cash, but it is probably worth trying. Start with the vendor, present receipts, photos (lots of photos, detailed, of it on and off the bile etc.) And don't expect an answer on the spot, it'll go to head office, thent their insurers who will doubtless try to put you off (that's their job).

It may have been imprudent for its first ever load to be thousands and thousands of pounds worth of laptop, but if it says it was designed for laptops then maybe not!

pinkshoes

Those motorbike bags are designed to be rigid, given the wind resistance they are subjected to, so this is quite clearly a product fault, and not fit for purpose!!

Start with the retailer, and take them photos of the damaged computer and bag, clearly showing the faulty stitching. It's then up to them to take it up with the manufacturer.

You should be looking at a replacement bag, along with a partial refund of the laptop (given it had 10 months of use, so about 1/4 of its life span). I presume you would have to hand over the old laptop if you're claiming for a new one.