Do I have a case to ask Homebase to pay for new carpets?

Minivinny1000

Hi,


I've recently had an issue with Homebase and wondering if someone could help / knew anything further.


I bought a 5L tin of emulsion from there last week and before even opening, the tin handle snapped whilst carrying and fell to the floor. The bottom of the tin also snapped as it hit the floor and a hole gashed opened, and the emulsion spilled all over the carpet.


Now in my eyes this is clearly a product fail, rather than just spilt paint. What does everyone think? Do I have a case to ask Homebase to pay for new carpets?


I've phoned them and they have said put it writing, their phone line aren't helpful at all!


Any views or past experiences would be really helpful?


Thanks


Dan

marliepanda

Sounds like a pretty flimsy tin if dropping it on carpet caused a gash in the can.

Anyway, you might if its a faulty tin. However, unless you bought your carpets yesterday, you won't get the price of new replacements. If they are 5 year olds, you'll get the replacement value of a 5 year old carpet, etc.

McKneff

Have you looked at the instructions on the tin.
Some of them actually recommend that you hold it with the handle and a hand under the tin.


I'll bet you 10 to one you will from now on.


Speak to them or claim on your household contents insurance.

Bantex_2

Home insurance should pay out, they may decide to pursue Homebase.

zaax

emulsion will wash out, if its not allowed to dry

InsideInsurance

As above, emulsion is relatively easy to clean up

If you were to claim off of homebase then they would only legally be required to indemnify you which basically means put you back in the same position you were beforehand so you'd only get a brand new carpet if you had a brand new carpet before dropping the tin.

If you claim off of your home insurance this will typically be new for old and so it wouldnt matter how old your carpet is you'd be entitled to a new one (assuming you have accidental damage cover and they dont think its fraud to get a new carpet). The insurer may attempt to make a recovery against Homebase if they think there is a reasonable prospect of success but Home insurance is well known for not being as proactive in this space as say Motor insurers are (probably as its much rarer)

fred7777

I would expect Homebase to be very unhelpful as it would be impossible to prove that the tin was at fault.