Dangerous/Faulty Goods

RedHitman

Hi all,

In August 2013 I made the decision that instead of having gas central installed (big pain) that I would have electric central heating instead. All very straight forward - just like normal central heating but they are electrical radiators (look exactly the same) but they just plug into the mains and can be controlled individually or via a central remote control. This cost me a total of about £3,500.

Anyways, I've had no issues with them until a few weeks ago and to cut a long story short, they're over-heating. It started just one or two, but now it's nine of the eleven radiators.
You set the temperature what you want it to be and once that temp is reached, they stop and maintain it. Well ,they're not. They're over-heating to the point that if I want the room to be 19 degrees, they can sometimes get to 28 degrees which is like a sauna (they all have thermostats built in - which is how you know the room temp).

I've got a 3 week old baby now and anything above 20 degrees is dangerous for a baby, so when they're getting to 28 degrees, its a massive health and safety concern to me.

I'm just wondering what my rights are in this matter to get them sorted as the company, although for the minute are trying to help, they've already planted a seed saying they're out of warranty.

This is a matter of something being dangerous, not just stopping working.

Can anyone help me on this please?

marliepanda

Same as anything else. You've had them over two years so if the retailer won't entertain you, you need to get an independent engineer to prove that when they were made something was wrong that meant 2 and a half years down the line they stopped working (the thermostats)

Then if it is proved to be inherently faulty the retailer must repair them, refund you (taking into account 2.5 years of usage) or replace them. It is their choice. If this is proven then the report cost will also be refunded by the retailer.

If it's stopped working through wear and tear then you have to fix them independently.

arcon5

Well the items in themselves are not dangerous so your rights are like any other

Zandoni

If you are not interested in going down the SOGA route it's sometimes worth talking to the manufacturer, although they are not obliged to help thers's always a chance.

Another option would be some sort of extra thermostat that an electrician could help with, costs would be involved though.

RedHitman

marliepanda wrote: »

Same as anything else. You've had them over two years so if the retailer won't entertain you, you need to get an independent engineer to prove that when they were made something was wrong that meant 2 and a half years down the line they stopped working (the thermostats)

Then if it is proved to be inherently faulty the retailer must repair them, refund you (taking into account 2.5 years of usage) or replace them. It is their choice. If this is proven then the report cost will also be refunded by the retailer.

If it's stopped working through wear and tear then you have to fix them independently.

Thanks very much for the info. I find it incredible that you can pay £3,500 for something and then 2 years down the line they break and then I would have to replace them again with the same cost.

arcon5 wrote: »

Well the items in themselves are not dangerous so your rights are like any other

How do you deem them not dangerous? The radiators are over-heating. They're dangerous. If I left my new born baby in a room where they over-heated to 28 degrees, how is that not dangerous?
Bit of a silly comment.

Zandoni wrote: »

If you are not interested in going down the SOGA route it's sometimes worth talking to the manufacturer, although they are not obliged to help thers's always a chance.

Another option would be some sort of extra thermostat that an electrician could help with, costs would be involved though.

Again, find it quite incredible that a manufacturer who has sold something faulty (albeit 2 years down the line) wouldn't be "obliged" to help. Astounding.

wealdroam

RedHitman wrote: »

I find it incredible that you can pay £3,500 for something and then 2 years down the line they break and then I would have to replace them again with the same cost.

You have the right to seek a remedy from the seller for up to six years from the sale.
Read MSE's Consumer Rights guide for details.

RedHitman wrote: »

How do you deem them not dangerous? The radiators are over-heating. They're dangerous. If I left my new born baby in a room where they over-heated to 28 degrees, how is that not dangerous?

The dangerous bit is you leaving your newborn baby open to the risk of overheating.

Sorry you need this spelt out for you.

marliepanda

RedHitman wrote: »

Thanks very much for the info. I find it incredible that you can pay £3,500 for something and then 2 years down the line they break and then I would have to replace them again with the same cost.


How do you deem them not dangerous? The radiators are over-heating. They're dangerous. If I left my new born baby in a room where they over-heated to 28 degrees, how is that not dangerous?
Bit of a silly comment.


Again, find it quite incredible that a manufacturer who has sold something faulty (albeit 2 years down the line) wouldn't be "obliged" to help. Astounding.

No one is saying you have to do that, you haven't read what I said.

They are not dangerous. They could be dangerous if you decided to leave your baby alone or not monitor the heat. Now you know and are taking steps against this. They are not going to explode.

They are not obliged to help because you've had them a long time now. You could have got a dodgy mate to change the fittings. You could have used them full blast 365 days a year. You could have whacked your Hoover into them twice a day.

They ARE obliged to fix them if you get a report stating what the problem is and that it was inherent at time of sale, like I said in the first reply. Without that, legally after 6 months they don't have to do anything, never mind 2.5 years.

System

RedHitman wrote: »

I've got a 3 week old baby now and anything above 20 degrees is dangerous for a baby, so when they're getting to 28 degrees, its a massive health and safety concern to me.

FGS How do you think babies in hotter areas of the world survive if 20+ degs is so dangerous.?

Who told you that claptrap?

lincroft1710

If a room is too warm it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death) in newborn or very young babies. NB increases the risk, not your baby will die!

Keep_pedalling

What happens if you turn them down to 15 degrees do they still heat the room to 28?

What make are these? Lots to them have 5 or 10 year manufacturers warranties.