Cooker instructions state "use chain supplied to secure cooker", chain not supplied.

Nilrem

Hi

About 4-5 weeks ago we bought a Hotpoint cooker that states in the instruction manual that during installation it should be fixed to the back wall using the chain supplied with it.

To quote the book

Hotpoint_HUI62TP_/_HUI62TK_manual wrote:

Safety Chain

!In order to prevent accidental tipping of the appliance, for example by a child climbing onto the oven door, the supplied safety chain MUST be installed!

The capitals and exclamation marks are actually used in the manual.


Now so far I've rang John Lewis who we bought it from, and Hotpoint (4 or 5 times).

Hotpoint have told me twice that the chain is not supplied, and twice that they can see it on the parts list and have ordered it for me.
When they've told me that it's not supplied they've stated it should be supplied by the fitter. But there is no fixing point on the cooker for a chain without the bracket shown in the manual (so no way for a fitter to fit a chain).

When they've said that it should be supplied and have ordered the part, they've said they can see it in the system and it should be there as standard (as the manual states two or three times)

When I called this afternoon I was told the chain wasn't supplied because it had to be fitted by a registered fitter (the cooker is not gas), due to an EU rule and the fitter would have the chain.
But as I say, there is nowhere for the chain to fit without the bracket that is shown in the manual, and given I've been told the part isn't listed how would a fitter get the bracket!.

At the moment it feels like I'm running round in circles wasting my time, as I can understand that manuals may be out of date, but given the manual states very clearly that the "supplied chain must be used" the answers I'm getting are nonsense (if the manual is out of date I would expect there to be an errata note included).
Having said that, the quality of the writing in the instruction manual is poor, but the statement about the chain is very clear (much clearer than most of the rest of the manual).


As it stands at the moment I'm going to try ringing John Lewis again on Monday as I bought it from them, but I don't expect them to have any better clue (when I rang them before the CS rep from memory looked at a copy of the manual and agreed that the chain should be there, but directed me to Hotpoint as the people who could supply it).

Apart from the chain issue (which wouldn't be too bad if I didn't have a niece who is just starting to walk), the cooker is really nice.

wealdroam

Nilrem wrote: »

Hi

About 4-5 weeks ago we bought a Hotpoint cooker that states in the instruction manual that during installation it should be fixed to the back wall using the chain supplied with it.

To quote the book

The capitals and exclamation marks are actually used in the manual.

Now so far I've rang John Lewis who we bought it from, and Hotpoint (4 or 5 times).

Hotpoint have told me twice that the chain is not supplied, and twice that they can see it on the parts list and have ordered it for me.
When they've told me that it's not supplied they've stated it should be supplied by the fitter. But there is no fixing point on the cooker for a chain without the bracket shown in the manual (so no way for a fitter to fit a chain).

When they've said that it should be supplied and have ordered the part, they've said they can see it in the system and it should be there as standard (as the manual states two or three times)

When I called this afternoon I was told the chain wasn't supplied because it had to be fitted by a registered fitter (the cooker is not gas), due to an EU rule and the fitter would have the chain.
But as I say, there is nowhere for the chain to fit without the bracket that is shown in the manual, and given I've been told the part isn't listed how would a fitter get the bracket!.

At the moment it feels like I'm running round in circles wasting my time, as I can understand that manuals may be out of date, but given the manual states very clearly that the "supplied chain must be used" the answers I'm getting are nonsense (if the manual is out of date I would expect there to be an errata note included).
Having said that, the quality of the writing in the instruction manual is poor, but the statement about the chain is very clear (much clearer than most of the rest of the manual).


As it stands at the moment I'm going to try ringing John Lewis again on Monday as I bought it from them, but I don't expect them to have any better clue (when I rang them before the CS rep from memory looked at a copy of the manual and agreed that the chain should be there, but directed me to Hotpoint as the people who could supply it).

Apart from the chain issue (which wouldn't be too bad if I didn't have a niece who is just starting to walk), the cooker is really nice.

You haven't actually asked a question, but here is a short extract from MSE's Consumer Rights guide:

Know who's responsible

When returning items, beware shops trying the oldest trick in the book: saying they're not responsible for the shoddy goods and you must call the manufacturer. This is total nonsense!

If a company fobs you off by saying “go to the maker instead”, it's wrong. It's the retailer's job to sort it.

It doesn't matter if it's an iPod from a high street shop or a designer frock from a department store. If something's broken, torn, ripped or faulty, the seller has a legal duty to put it right as your contract is with it.

bris

The safety chain gets fitted by taking one of the screws out the back cover and replacing it with the chain in the middle. They can be bought for a couple of quid.


If your not up to the job of fitting a simple safety chain then get a fitter who is, it really is that simple.

hollydays

Try this forum
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/forumsphpbb3/cooker-oven-forum/

Nilrem

Thanks for the replies, Holidays I'll have a look there

bris wrote: »

The safety chain gets fitted by taking one of the screws out the back cover and replacing it with the chain in the middle. They can be bought for a couple of quid.


If your not up to the job of fitting a simple safety chain then get a fitter who is, it really is that simple.

Except that the cooker instructions don't state that, they specifically show a bracket that the chain attaches to, and there are two very obvious bracket mounting points

Even Hotpoint support who should have any updated manuals and instructions for it can't give a consistent answer (as shown by different replies depending on who I get).

Typically when an instruction manual that includes fitting instructions specifies what you're meant to do, and states that it includes a part, you expect that to overrule a general method.
So typically I tend to follow the instruction manual and get slightly concerned when it doesn't seem to be right, as there can be very good reasons for them to specify a way to do something that doesn't conform to the standard/common method (such as the standard method potentially damaging something, or the points specified in the manual having been made stronger to do the job better).

For example the back of the cooker has


and


Which corresponds to what the instruction manual shows for mounting brackets (and the black thing is the test connector port). There are two black screws, but given their location and styling they would appear to be spacers to prevent the oven being pushed back too far (the old cooker had similar ones).

If the manual is out of date and there has been a manufacturing change, there should be at least an errata print out in with the manual, or an updated version of the manual online


Sorry if that's a little short, but years of having to read and follow the instructions for technical gear has tended to make me very much a "do it as the manual states" person, because if you don't and go with the "common" method at times bad things can happen:) For example finding that the pin out on a device from one manufacturer is different to the pin out used by every other one.

wealdroam

Get one of these and don't spend any more time talking about it.

Nilrem

Aye, cheers wealdroam, I think I'll do that.

It just bugs me enormously when instructions state something (especially to do with safety or installation), and it doesn't actually match up with what the product is/does.
I'm very much a "if the instructions tell me to do this, I'm going to assume they're right" sort of person.

skintpaul

If not gas, then electric - if ample length in the power cable, should be no problem.

molerat

skintpaul wrote: »

If not gas, then electric - if ample length in the power cable, should be no problem.

The chain is to stop it from tipping.

Keep_pedalling

All gas ovens (even great big range things that could not tip over in a million years) have to be chained, but not electric ovens so I don't know why those instructions say it has to be fitted, unless they want to cover their !!!! I case a stupid person tries to sue them after they hurt themselves climbing on the damn thing.

I suppose if you have young children who might climb on it might be wise to add a chain but otherwise it is a pointless exersize.

meer53

Just my thoughts, but would anyone really open an oven door and leave it open when a small child is in the same room ? I've had several ovens in my lifetime, all electric and i've never chained one to a wall. I've also had 2 small children.