Home improvement company gone bust :(

freemank7

Hi,
Just wondering if anybody can help me.
I have purchased gutters, and fascia's from Homeshield complete home improvement solutions which has now gone bust. The problem is the work came with a 10 year guarantee and I now need a repair on the work, I contacted what i thought was the orginal company but was told that they had just took over the name and I would have to pay for my repair.
Please can somebody help has I don't know where to go.
Many thanks
Karen

arcon5

How did you pay originally?

Who provided the guarantee? Was it the company themselves as I believe some companies have it underwritten by someone else (if underwritten is the right word) who will deal with it.

freemank7

We have the payments on a payment plan which is provided by barclays.
I have just read on the contract
"if this contract is funded in whole or in part by finance agreement the finance company are required by Consumer Legislation to safeguard your deposit and uphold your guarantee"
But we didn't pay a deposit.
I am so confused

arcon5

freemank7 wrote: »

We have the payments on a payment plan which is provided by barclays.
I have just read on the contract
"if this contract is funded in whole or in part by finance agreement the finance company are required by Consumer Legislation to safeguard your deposit and uphold your guarantee"
But we didn't pay a deposit.
I am so confused

The payment plan... is it a credit agreement solely designed for the purchase of this home improvements purchase? (and by that i'm excluding a loan or overdraft type facility)

Has the whole balance been paid using this single method? Ie. I didn't for example make the first payment on a credit card for example.

freemank7

It's an agreement just for the home improvements and all of the balance was paid just using this method.
Thank you for your help and support so far.

wealdroam

Get in touch with Barclays.
They have equal responsibility for supplying the service... i.e. the guarantee.

You appear to be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

MSE's article on Section 75 Refunds says...

Does it apply to other credit?

While the bulk of claims are made to credit card providers, the law also applies to other types of credit agreement (except where the supplier is also the creditor, eg for some car finance).
Personal bank loans specifically for large items do not get Section 75 protection, even though the loan's a regulated agreement. This is because to be covered the finance must be properly linked to an item (known as a Debtor-Creditor-Supplier agreement) so that the finance company can see a clear relationship between the money and the goods.
Paying by credit card is paying directly for goods, meaning the relationship's clear, whereas bank loans, even if ostensibly for a car, could actually be spent on anything.

freemank7

Thanks Wealdroam, feel there may be light at the end of the tunnel now. Will get on with that tomorrow.
God I love knowing there's support out there.