Fischer Storage Heaters

Truthful1

barry7376 wrote: »

Last week I came across a flyer for the Fischer Heating System for storage heating. It looked impressive (website and flyer and products) and I have been disappointed with my 10-15 year old storage heaters in my 2 bed flat!

I arranged for an "engineer" more like salesperson to come to my flat and quote me. He was extremely polite and friendly. He assessed my flat cubic area etc and wrote up a quote. I had a price in my mind and was horrified with his first quote. For replacing 4 storage heaters (2 large and 2 small) the price was circa £6000! Within a minute (or less!) it was down to £4200 approx. I said I thought it was still expensive and will think about it. He said he will consult management on a further reduction and 2 days later the price came down to £3900 approx. and said that is the final price and I will need to commit to that price very soon or it will be unavailable. He said the job would be part of a larger job nearby and hence the reason for discount as fitting can be done at the same time and also the heaters can be made up the same time. I said I was surprised they arent in stock and need to be made up for each job!

I generally think the product works and will save money on bills BUT not at the price they are looking for. Thanks to MSE website but I will politely decline when they next call (going by previous comments they'll call back in a week or two). I will try Aeroflow, at least their prices are realistic and visible on the website. The product and materials inside looks very similar to Fischer's too!

:beer:

'Making them up for you' prevents you from cancelling the order if you change your mind shortly after you pay the deposit.

macman

PM = Private Message.
Of course they target the affluent elderly, hence their adverts in the Sunday Telegraph.
Whether they are made to order or not is irrelevant. Once you pay a deposit, you are contracted, and your only get out will be the cooling-off period based on the fact that you contracted in your own home and not in a shop.

Truthful1

Thank you macman. Yes, the all important deposit does tie you in for the long haul. Am I wrong to think that made to order products are outside the cooling off category?

Truthful1

macman wrote: »

PM = Private Message.
Of course they target the affluent elderly, hence their adverts in the Sunday Telegraph.
Whether they are made to order or not is irrelevant. Once you pay a deposit, you are contracted, and your only get out will be the cooling-off period based on the fact that you contracted in your own home and not in a shop.

Since October 2008 there are improved cancellation rights if you agree to buy something during a visit by a trader, whether or not you invited the trader to visit.
If you make a contract for over £35 with a trader in your own home (or someone elses), or at your workplace, for goods and/or services:

You have, in most cases, a seven day cooling off period in which you can change your mind and cancel.
The rules only apply if the contract is agreed while the trader is with you.
These cancellation rights do not apply if the trader visits and later sends you a written quotation, which you accept by phone or in writing when he is not present.:
The trader must give you a written notice of your cancellation rights, including a cancellation form, which explains how you can cancel. If the trader fails to give you this written information he commits a criminal offence and does not have a legal right to demand payment. Contact Trading Standards if this happens to you.
You must cancel in writing. Cancellation takes effect the day you send the letter, not the day the trader receives it. Keep a copy and get proof of posting.
If you buy something online, by phone, fax, mail order or TV at home without any face-to-face contact with the trader you still usually have a right to change your mind and cancel but the rules are different. The trader must still send you written details of your right to cancel.
If you make a credit or hire agreement at home you still have a cooling off period but the rules are different. Your right to cancel must be set out in the agreement.:mad:

Smiley_Dan

Heh, wonder if that's why they say this "made to order" guff, and the salespeople are self employed. The CCA didn't used to cover 1-3 person businesses IIRC (it does now).

Truthful1

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Heh, wonder if that's why they say this "made to order" guff, and the salespeople are self employed. The CCA didn't used to cover 1-3 person businesses IIRC (it does now).

SD What does that mean in plain English?

Truthful1

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Heh, wonder if that's why they say this "made to order" guff, and the salespeople are self employed. The CCA didn't used to cover 1-3 person businesses IIRC (it does now).

SD.. there must be a reason they say the product is made to order, when it is not....and also why the deposit secures the discounted price but the price is not written down...possibly to take the customer out of the protection of the cooling off period.

Smiley_Dan

Consumer Credit Act. I wondered if they were trying to protect against charge backs when people realise they've been "had".

Actually strike that, I don't think charge backs can be used in this situation.

Truthful1

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Consumer Credit Act. I wondered if they were trying to protect against charge backs when people realise they've been "had".

Actually strike that, I don't think charge backs can be used in this situation.

Well they are definitely trying to protect themselves from customers cancelling. If a product is good, needed and the customer can afford it, then there should be no problem...don't you agree? I cannot imagine an ethical manufacturer of a basic appliance using these sales techniques in this day and age.

Truthful1

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Consumer Credit Act. I wondered if they were trying to protect against charge backs when people realise they've been "had".

Actually strike that, I don't think charge backs can be used in this situation.

Will most likely get a call from them in the coming weeks. Do they not realise that without all the sales shadiness we would have bought the heaters from them.