What to do with Stair Lift?

Beanynut2

Hi

I bought my husband a brand new stair lift a 3 months ago for £1700, which he hardly used. Sadly he died last week and I am trying to sell some things to pay for the funeral and some of his debts. I approached a couple of local companies about whether they wanted to buy it back but they say they will only pay a couple £100. Can anyone advise me on the best way of getting a bit more of the money back on it?

Thank you

Indie_Kid

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I assume you've asked around people you know? Ebay?

Robin9

Is your house typical of your street?

If so put a note through the letter boxes

MoneyMate

Sorry to hear about your sad loss, hope this link may help ?

http://www.albionstairlifts.co.uk/stairlifts-wanted/

Savvy_Sue

Beanynut2 wrote: »

I am trying to sell some things to pay for the funeral and some of his debts.

I am sorry for your loss. You may be on top of things, but we do have a board for Deaths, Funerals and Probate, if you wanted specific help with dealing with his debts people would be glad to help out there. For example, if the debts were in his name alone, it is his estate which should be paying them. If there is nothing in his estate, then you may be advised not to attempt doing anything. It can get complicated.

Going back to the original question, have you asked the company which installed the stairlift? When we had to remove Mum's, the original installers would have charged us to take it out, but it had been in place for quite a few years! We got £100 for it in the end.

Beanynut2

Thank you everyone. And Savvy Sue - thanks for pointing out the other board - it's going to come in useful!

billywilly

Beanynut2 wrote: »

Hi

I bought my husband a brand new stair lift a 3 months ago for £1700, which he hardly used. Sadly he died last week and I am trying to sell some things to pay for the funeral and some of his debts. I approached a couple of local companies about whether they wanted to buy it back but they say they will only pay a couple £100. Can anyone advise me on the best way of getting a bit more of the money back on it?

Thank you

When I had to clear out my late father's home, we had to get a skip into which we put the 2 year old stair lift. No one wanted it.
Additionally all of his equipment provided by Social Services went in the skip too - stools, bath lift, comode, toilet seat, pillow riser etc - they didn't want it back either.

Savvy_Sue

billywilly wrote: »

When I had to clear out my late father's home, we had to get a skip into which we put the 2 year old stair lift. No one wanted it.
Additionally all of his equipment provided by Social Services went in the skip too - stools, bath lift, comode, toilet seat, pillow riser etc - they didn't want it back either.

That's a shame, but it does vary from one authority to another. All of Mum's equipment was picked up, and the fire service were very glad to come and collect her flashing smoke alarms, because the kind she had are no longer available and they sometimes needed spare parts!

SailorSam

My Mum had one fitted, the salesman who came to the house gave the impression they'd buy it back if it was never needed. After my Mum died i got back in touch with Acorn and the only help they offered were some blank postcards which they suggested we put in shop windows'
We were going to get so little for it i decided to leave it were it is, I moved into the house and you never know there may come a day that i'll use it. Or if the house is ever sold it maybe a 'selling point' if someone is old or disabled.

Ms_Chocaholic

Sorry for your loss. I can't offer any practical advice re the stairlift, but if the debts were in the sole name of your husband and he has no other assets, then it is my understanding that the debts do not require repayment.

billywilly

SailorSam wrote: »

'
We were going to get so little for it i decided to leave it were it is, I moved into the house and you never know there may come a day that i'll use it. Or if the house is ever sold it maybe a 'selling point' if someone is old or disabled.

In most cases selling a house with a stair lift in place plus the grab handles at every door inside and out does put people off. The estate agent told me that the property should be put back into what a non disabled person would want to buy - there are more non disabled buyers than there are disabled ones! She was right - it was sold within 2 weeks at over the asking price to a young couple.