Rental company won't collect!

horsepills

Help!

I have rented a washing machine for a number of years from a rental company called dial-a-tv (http://www.dialatv.com/). Over 2 months ago I called them to try to end my agreement with them, as I had bought a new washing machine. They NEVER returned any of my calls. So, on the 20th September I wrote a letter to them giving them 30 day notice of my intention to cancel (in accordance with their terms and conditions) and said I would keep the washing machine available for them to collect until the 15th November.

They finally called me back on the 6th November (6 weeks after my letter!) saying that it's fine for me to cancel the agreement and they would contact me shortly to arrange collection. That was almost 2 weeks ago, and I still haven't heard from them (meanwhile, the washing machine remains in my front room!). I've just typed another letter saying that I am giving them until the end of November to collect the washing machine - if they don't collect it by then I will dispose of it.

But my question is - am I legally entitled to get rid of it?? Technically it still belongs to them, but they've known for 2 months that I want them to collect it (which I think is ample time for them to have contacted me to arrange collection!) and have done nothing so far.
I really want rid of the damn thing but don't want to be charged a hefty sum by them if I dispose of it myself.

vansboy

You should be OK - this is similar to TV rentals, it's simply not worth their effort sending a man & a van to pick it up!

Your letter sounds fine, do keep a copy though.

Advertise the machine on Freecycle, to save having to cart it away yourself.

Then idf they come calling, say you disposed of it in this way.

VB