Mouldy bed!

abs1990

Not sure if this is the right bit to post on but here goes...
I brought bunk beds for my sons from the bedpost a couPle of weeks ago. I paid £10 deposit on my card instore and paid the remaining £190 in cash when they were delivered. I started to put them together today and all the frame is fine. I opened the last box which contained the bed slats to find them covered in green mould. Called up my local store who came round a few hours later with a new box, opened them in front of the driver and incredibly they were in even worse condition and covered in green mould spores. I was told they would check the boxes remaining and bring some round that were ok later on. This evening comes and another box is dropped off which I told has been made up of all the best slats out of a number of boxes. The driver removes a few to show me they are ok. When he leaves I start to remove the slats to find half of them still mouldy, only slightly admittedly but mouldy all the same. I am going to phone in the morning and ask for a new box that is unaffected or my money back. Am I well within my rights to ask for my money back. The frame has been assembled so they may say no because of this? Or can I just state not fit for purpose? Would having paid mainly in cash have any bearing on me beig able to get a refund? Thanks.

VitaK

It is absolutely not fit for purpose. Sleeping on a mouldy bed constitute a risk to your health.

vickynleon

i would make sure i got my money back. do you really want your children sleeping on something that has even the slightest bit of mold because i certainly wouldnt. i would rather go out and pay twice the price that let me son sleep on something moldy. you are well within your rights to a refund so dont let them fob you off.

paddyrg

If it helps reassure you, mold grows only on wet things, the bed once in situ will be dry, so mold won't be an issue. If you are worried about existing mold, you could stick some rubber gloves on and sponge diluted bleach down each slat and dry them in the sun. May be worth it if the bed is otherwise perfect and priced right?

Valli

paddyrg wrote: »

If it helps reassure you, mold grows only on wet things, the bed once in situ will be dry, so mold won't be an issue. If you are worried about existing mold, you could stick some rubber gloves on and sponge diluted bleach down each slat and dry them in the sun. May be worth it if the bed is otherwise perfect and priced right?

How is this bed 'otherwise' perfect? You are, in effect, asking the OP to accept this in the state it's in because it's 'cheap'.

Mould spores can, and do, cause respiratory problems.
These slats must have been stored in damp conditions! If the wood is overly moist it could twist and deform as it dries out!
If the OP waits for the bed to dry out it will be unusable while it dries; if used before its properly dry damp, and mould spores, could transfer to the bedding and other items in the room.

OP REJECT this bed, ask for a refund under DSR

and take photos

abs1990

Thanks, I took pictures of the boxes that they took back and will take further photos tomorrow of this box. I won't be cleaning them down as I shouldn't have to IMO. My youngest actually does have respiratory issues and a heart condition hence me being so angry about it in the first place. Do you think I should go straight for money back rather han asking for yet another replacement?

paddyrg

I have no idea how the bed might be otherwise perfect, perhaps it fits the space, the mattresses, ladders, sides, legs, headboards all immaculate, or whatever. It was a question in case the OP decided to keep it despite the limited mold.

There are millions of mold spores in the air the whole time, we eat various molds in cheeses, bread, top of the marmalade, etc. Mold will only grow and release spores if it is alive, so I suggested killing it, but fact is on dry slats it won't be growing and spreading anyway, it has no food.

Just giving the OP a choice in case for the low price they had found something they were basically really happy with apart from this element.

Valli

Mould cannot be on dry slats - if mould is there the slats MUST be damp - or have been damp recently.

@ OP I would go for money back and look elsewhere, personally.

@ Paddy - yes bleach will kill the mould but, like the OP, I would not expect to have to do this myself. Well, not without a partial refund;)

abs1990

I would put a picture on but can't seem to do it being a newb. The slats don't feel wet but do feel cold as if they have been damp if hat makes sense? They weren't a particular bargain, beds of a similar size and spec can be brought in lots of shops, I just went with these as they were local and could deliver easily

Valli

No they don't seem particularly cheap to me, going with prices I've seen recently.

While Paddy's suggestion for cleaning them up is feasible it does mean you will have to have somewhere warm and dry to dry them out (given the rain we're having lately) so they're not going to be usable anytime soon.

jamespir

i would ask for a refund you cant be expected to allow anyone to sleep on a mouldy bed