Carpet Fitting - I have to pay the fitter separately - who is liable for faults?

anotherday1

I have ordered some carpet and I have paid the shop on my credit card. The shop have told me that I have to pay the fitter on the day in cash. This seems a little odd to me. Who would be liable for any fitting issues? I hope it is the shop, since I have dealt with them and not the fitter! Is this normal practice?

Furts

Paying the fitter direct may be OK provided you know the fitters name, the fitters track record and have done due diligence on their skills and abilities - ask friends, check the web etc.

Paying cash is OK provided you get a receipt to back up the work done. Then you have some recourse should things go wrong.

However, if you wish the shop to be responsible for the fitting then request this, or if no luck, then cancel the order.

In my opinion if you entered a deal with the shop on the basis of supply and fit, and you are now being told the shop is not fitting, then the shop is in breach of contract. Hence you can request a refund and take your business elsewhere.

anotherday1

The shop are supplying\arranging the fitters to fit the carpets they are supplying. I have had no input in the process other than being told I have to pay the fitter in cash. From my point of view I am dealing with the shop and not the fitters!

Should I be confident that the shop are still liable for the quality of the fitting given I have not had any input on the fitting side?

calleyw

I believe this is standard.

I found it strange when I ordered some carpet last year.

Asked a couple of people and it seems to be the industry standard.

You pay the fitter as they are not shop staff. Personally would have preferred to pay it all on my credit card in one hit in the shop.

I had no choice who I had to fit it. I assume if you have issue you talk to the fitter as you paid them directly.

Yours

Calley

jhs14

anotherday1 wrote: »

The shop are supplying\arranging the fitters to fit the carpets they are supplying. I have had no input in the process other than being told I have to pay the fitter in cash. From my point of view I am dealing with the shop and not the fitters!

Should I be confident that the shop are still liable for the quality of the fitting given I have not had any input on the fitting side?

When you say they are arranging the fitters, do you mean they are including the fitting in their services (even if they want you to pay the 'fitting' element in cash on the day), or have they simply arranged for an independant fitter on your behalf?

In other words, have you bought a carpet from them and then they said "Why doesn't my mate John fit it? He charges £XX, I'll give him a ring and make sure he's free on the day".

Or have you bought carpet plus fitting from them?

Furts

Not meaning to highjack this thread - sorry anotherday1!

I have recently been through this with a conservatory company. They required me to pay the fitters direct. I argued that they were supplying the fitters hence they took the responsibility, or risk, for this. They could not argue against this - the fitters travelled around in the conservatory company van.

The fitters were self employed and paying a hire fee to the conservatory company for the van. This hire fee was less than commercial van hire rates because the van was a mobile advertising medium for the conservatory company.

The company agreed to send their best fitters in order to reduce their exposure to anything going wrong. Unfortunately the fitting has been a disaster, but in fairness to the conservatory company they are honouring our deal and will be dismantling and rebuilding the conservatory. This will cost them a considerable sum, but that is their problem.

So back to anothday1...be very careful about what you may be letting yourself in for!

jhs14

calleyw wrote: »

I believe this is standard.

I found it strange when I ordered some carpet last year.

Asked a couple of people and it seems to be the industry standard.

You pay the fitter as they are not shop staff. Personally would have preferred to pay it all on my credit card in one hit in the shop.

I had no choice who I had to fit it. I assume if you have issue you talk to the fitter as you paid them directly.

Yours

Calley

If that is standard - it wasn't my experience the last time I bought a carpet from a local shop - then I find that a strange set up, I don't think I'd be comfortable. Either I buy the carpet and arrange my own fitter, or I buy carpet plus fitting. In which case, I'd pay the shop for the whole supply. It's nothing to do with me whether the fitter is subcontracted or a member of staff.

sinizterguy

I wouldn't do it. This removes the liability for the work from the shop to the fitters. And the credit card payment won't protect you for the fitting - as that's being paid separately.

After a national chain told me this, I shopped with local small stores - and they came and did everything. Covered with one credit card payment (deposit) prior to work being booked in and another to cover the bulk after the fitting was done and we were happy.

jhs14

sinizterguy wrote: »

After a national chain told me this, I shopped with local small stores - and they came and did everything. Covered with one credit card payment (deposit) prior to work being booked in and another to cover the bulk after the fitting was done and we were happy.

Same here. I've no idea if the two chaps who came to fit it were in-house fitters or independent fitters. It didn't matter, because the liability would still be with the carpet shop if it went wrong.

calleyw

jhs14 wrote: »

If that is standard - it wasn't my experience the last time I bought a carpet from a local shop - then I find that a strange set up, I don't think I'd be comfortable. Either I buy the carpet and arrange my own fitter, or I buy carpet plus fitting. In which case, I'd pay the shop for the whole supply. It's nothing to do with me whether the fitter is subcontracted or a member of staff.

I used a national chain and that is what they do. They sub it out to a local fitter.

I had no choice who I got to fit it and no choice to pay it all in one go.

Small independent stores may be different. This is my one and only time I have bought carpet and that is what happened.

Yours

Calley

jhs14

calleyw wrote: »

I used a national chain and that is what they do. They sub it out to a local fitter.

I had no choice who I got to fit it and no choice to pay it all in one go.

Small independent stores may be different. This is my one and only time I have bought carpet and that is what happened.

Yours

Calley

OK, I assumed you were talking about an independent. I suppose as a big chain you're right, you had no choice in the matter, take it or leave it. It's easy for me to say I'd have walked away, but I suppose after finding the carpet and negotiating the price I probably wouldn't have! I wouldn't be happy though. Presumably the reason the big chain does it is so they can avoid responsibility if it goes wrong.

Stick to the independent next time!