Faulty Boiler - Manufacturer's responsibility?

paulT

Hi,

Our expensive condensing boiler has decided to have a split in the Heat Exchanger and is currently disgorging water into a bucket on our work top. It was installed by a plumber 4 years ago (who I now cannot contact), but after calling the boiler manufacturer they agree it shouldn't break within 4 years, but will not accept any responsibility. They are prepared to charge a £300.00 repair and 'maintain' contract through a third party to me (which I have had to accept under protest as it's winter and we need hot water).

Do I have any redress as it is obviously a manufacturing defect. No-one should have to replace an expensive boiler every 2 years......

Any advice is appreciated.

Paul

bod1467

You need to prove it's an inherent fault. And any recourse you have is with the vendor - if the plumber supplied and fitted the boiler then it is with him/her.

If you'd had a servicecare contract already with someone like British Gas (£18 per month?) then fault this would likely have been covered, as well as coverage for other parts of your CH system (radiators, valves etc.). it sounds like this is what the manufacturer has offered, but for the boiler only.

Is that £300 per year? One year only? Something else?

paulT

Thanks

The boiler is from a reputable company and it is quite obviously a design fault as the heat exchager has cracked. The boiler has been running perfectly well for the past 4 years and from my opinion, this particular component should last well beyond that. We use a water softener to avoid limescale so that is not the cause. I can't contact the Plumber, but even if I could, how can the cost of the repair be claimed from him, and how would he then recoup his loss?

The £300 is for the repair of the boiler and a maintenance contract for 1 year - unfortunately more expensive than BG service plan, but I need this fixed quickly; however my argument is still that the boiler should last more than 4 years and I would not normally even contemplate a Service Contract until it became 5 years old as it would double the price of the boiler over that period!

Do I have any redress against the manufacturer at all?

Thanks again

Paul

dreamypuma

[QUOTE=paulT;50034405

Do I have any redress against the manufacturer at all?

Thanks again

Paul[/QUOTE]

Only if you purchased the boiler directly from the manufacturer

If your boiler was purchased and fitted by your plumber, then you need to take the matter up with him under SoGA. More details on this can be found on the sticky above. As another poster mentioned, the burden of proof falls upon you after 6months. To persue your claim you would need an engineers report.

All quite irrelevant if you can't track your plumber.

You say it's a good quality boiler. What make and model is it?

Hintza

So you have had the boiler serviced on a regular basis as per manufacturers guidelines?

If not I think you will be on to plumbs.

mattyprice4004

You didn't purchase from them, therefore you have no redress with them.

It doesn't matter if it's not fit for purpose, it's not their problem.

If you start getting shirty and quoting SOGA, they'll just ignore you and rightly so.

derrick

How did you pay? Any part of the payment via CC or finance and you can use S75 against the card issuer or finance provider.

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