Bought a tap from Wickes, now it's broken

fejjie · 21 December 2017 at 1:59PM

Hi all you good people.

I bought a kitchen tap from Wickes about two years ago. It said on the box it had a ten year guarantee.

The tap assembly on the hot side came loose about a month ago, it would no longer turen the water on and off, called a plumber and he tightened it up. The next day it was loose again. The plumber reckons the thread has stripped inside the tap.

I called Wickes and they wanted the receipt, I don't have the receipt, but the tap can be no more than two years old. They basically fobbed me off. I wrote them a letter based on the CAB site asking for a response within 14 days, sent recorded.

No response.

Can anyone advise please?

Cheers

J

marliepanda · 21 December 2017 at 2:09PM

Guarantees can contain any caveats they want, which can include writing to them in German requesting a replacement, them being able to take custody of your first child in exchange for a replacement tap, or indeed, requiring a receipt.

You may have statutory rights as you are within 6 years from purchase, but this would place more requirements on you to get them, including the possibility of Wickes requiring you to get an independent report stating this was an inherently faulty tap. Unlikely after 2 years, but you never know.

fejjie · 21 December 2017 at 2:19PM

It does seem unreasonable for any tap to fail after two years, it's not like it's in a factory kitchen.

marliepanda · 21 December 2017 at 2:22PM

fejjie wrote: »

It does seem unreasonable for any tap to fail after two years, it's not like it's in a factory kitchen.

That entirely depends, if you have someone with OCD who washes their hands 20+ times a day, maybe not.

Maybe someone never cleaned it, allowing rust and crap to build up.

There are many things to consider.

fejjie · 21 December 2017 at 2:42PM

Aye, but it is the internal thread that has failed, so the actual tap bit no longer actuates the valve. It's loose on the tap mounting and as I said, it won't tighten. I was there when the plumber tightened it up, he didn't even use any tools, just nipped it up tight. He said he could glue it, but then no-one would be able to get inside the tap in the future. I've noticed since that the cold side seems to be loose as well, still works, but not properly.

I'll go to CAB and see what they suggest.

agrinnall · 21 December 2017 at 3:25PM

I think you're going to have to buy a new tap. The guarantee is worthless because you haven't retained the receipt, and I would be surprised if anyone can categorically state that it's an inherent fault, in which case you have no consumer rights to exercise. If you do buy a new one, file the receipt away carefully this time!