Howdens faulty sink. Who pays the labour?

CaroleEmma

We have recently had a howdens kitchen installed. Plumber noticed yesterday the sink overflow is faulty. Howdens will replace the sink (this is the 2nd time this has happened recently so must be a faulty batch) but they refuse to cover the cost of having to virtually dismantle the kitchen to change the sink over. This is half a days work - who is liable to this labour charge?

wealdroam

CaroleEmma wrote: »

We have recently had a howdens kitchen installed. Plumber noticed yesterday the sink overflow is faulty. Howdens will replace the sink (this is the 2nd time this has happened recently so must be a faulty batch) but they refuse to cover the cost of having to virtually dismantle the kitchen to change the sink over. This is half a days work - who is liable to this labour charge?

Simply... whoever sold the sink to you are responsible for that cost.

If you bought the sink from Howdens, then Howdens are responsible for that cost.
But if, for example, your plumber/kitchen fitter bought the sink from Howdens then sold it to you, then he bears the cost. Your plumber may be able to recover that cost from his supplier, Howdens, but that depends on his business to business contract with his supplier.

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InsideInsurance

wealdroam wrote: »

Simply... whoever sold the sink to you are responsible for that cost.

Generally yes however there is also the question of if the defect was such that it couldnt be reasonably spotted before fully plumbing it in.

On the basis the OP says this is their second sink and the first one had the same problem then the first thing I'd have done with it before plumbing it in was to check/ test the part that was faulty last time.

The plumbers claim that it is a 4 hour job to replace a sink with an identical unit, doesnt bother checking the 2nd unit after the first one is faulty.... sounds like someone is possibly milking the situation to me.

wealdroam

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Generally yes however there is also the question of if the defect was such that it couldnt be reasonably spotted before fully plumbing it in.

On the basis the OP says this is their second sink and the first one had the same problem then the first thing I'd have done with it before plumbing it in was to check/ test the part that was faulty last time.

The plumbers claim that it is a 4 hour job to replace a sink with an identical unit, doesnt bother checking the 2nd unit after the first one is faulty.... sounds like someone is possibly milking the situation to me.

You may well be right, but I had assumed that it was the plumber mentioning that this is the second one he had come across recently.

Yes, a big assumption on my part... perhaps the OP can clarify?

CaroleEmma

Thanks everyone. Howdens themselves came round to look at the sink today and told us this was the 2nd sink that they had been made aware of with regards to the faulty overflow hole. We bought it from them direct and we had a separate plumber to install. I don't suppose anyone knows of the rule number on the goods act that I can give them?!

InsideInsurance

CaroleEmma wrote: »

I don't suppose anyone knows of the rule number on the goods act that I can give them?!

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54/part/5A?view=extent

Sale of Goods Act 1979: Part 5A

(2)If the buyer requires the seller to repair or replace the goods, the seller must—

(a)repair or, as the case may be, replace the goods within a reasonable time but without causing significant inconvenience to the buyer;

(b)bear any necessary costs incurred in doing so (including in particular the cost of any labour, materials or postage).

Sasahara2

Isn't Howdens a trade only business or am I getting my Howdens mixed up?

If so you should only be able to buy from them as trade, if that is the case SOGA is different and will depent on the trade contract.

Consequential losses are normally excluded.