LifeCote Group Damp Proofing - Lost guarantee!

rup17

Hello,

I'm new to this forum so hello everybody and apologies if I make any mistakes in this post!

I have a query over a guarantee for some damp proofing treatment that was performed in my house in late 2011.

I obtained a quote from the LifeCote damp proofing company and proceeded to have the work done. In the intervening period I have noticed that a wall/area has developed a case of damp.

LifeCote issue a 30 year guarantee on all work that they have done. They sent out a guarantee certificate soon after the work was completed and paid for. Unfortunately I cannot find my guarantee certificate anywhere although I do recall receiving it (and thinking put it in a very safe place!)

I have had to call LifeCote for help, however they have been very firm and said they cannot and will not do anything unless the guarantee certificate is provided. I have all quotes, plans, invoices and evidence of payment and have informed them of this, as evidence that work has been done. Literally everything except the guarantee.

This was the last e-mail I received from the company director:

If you are making a claim under the terms and conditions of the guarantee we will need to see the guarantee.

That would apply to any company in the Uk it's not unreasonable.

We cannot send a crew to make any repairs without sight of the same.

That's why companies issue guarantees!

There are some circumstances when no guarantees are offered such as a reduced specification etc I would imagine this is one such case if the document cannot be produced.

---

He is making his point that despite having all notification of work being done, and reciepts of payment and the company offering 30 year guarentees on completed work it appears I don't have a leg to stand on?!

I mentioned the consumer rights act and also if works completed in 2011, it would be reasonable to assume in 2013 it shouldn't have had a damp problem so soon? (Especially if the company offers 30 year guarantees??)

Sorry for the long post but I feel at a total loss and would really appreciate any advice people may have!!

Thanks

Rup

keyser666

See if you can get a replacement by
http://www.lifecote.biz/applyguarantee_87.html

rup17

Hi there,

Yeah I saw that on the website, they now issue their guarantee's electronically via PDF. I have applied in the hope it will be sent out, however i've not had any response in the last few weeks since I applied...

It also says it must be claimed for within 30 days of the completed works, unfortunately it was late 2011 so I have my doubts whether it will be issued. Hoping some one in the chain lets it pass through!

Thanks for the advice too

bryanb

Have you tried trading standards? Any guarantee I've claimed on the receipt was the important bit of paper.

keyser666

You could always go to the DPA? See what they say? I dont see anywhere on their site when I checked earlier that you must have the certificate but I was in a rush for a meeting so might have missed something

Fire_Fox

Ask for a replacement certificate, you might have to pay for it. And write a letter, don't telephone or e-mail. You might find something useful in the Sale of Goods and Services Act, you can make a claim under that even if not under the warranty. Damp proofing would reasonably be expected to last for more than eighteen months IMO.

ETA
"Q. I had damp-proofing work carried out on my house five years ago by a limited company but I've noticed some rising damp under a bay window. I didn't think this should have happened so soon. I complained to the company that carried out the work, as I had been told it was covered by a ten year guarantee. However, the company claims that the original company went into liquidation and it is an entirely separate legal entity. It is refusing to honour the guarantee or carry out any remedial work unless I pay. Can they do this?

A. Your contract for the work and the guarantee was with the original limited company, and it is liable to you only for as long as it is trading. If it ceases trading, or the premises have been taken over by another business, you cannot enforce the guarantee. If you paid for the work using a credit card or on finance arranged by the company, the finance provider may be equally liable (which means equally responsible) with the company under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. In this case, you could claim from the finance provider instead of the company.

Some companies offer insurance-backed guarantees for this sort of work. This means that the guarantee is underwritten by an insurance company and exists in its own right, separate from the company that carried out the work. If the company disappears or goes bust, you should still be able to make a claim under the guarantee from the insurance company for the lifetime of the guarantee. Check your guarantee carefully."
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/glos/con1item.cgi?file=*adv0054-1011.txt

vuvuzela

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] protective wall coating salesman on doorstep