Dermititis caused by new sofa

Viv_D

We bought a leather sofa from Sofology in March. April I needed a fungicidal cream from the doctors for a patch behind my left shoulder. In May I returned to the doctor who gave me a steroid cream for small patches of ecxcema on my leg, though I have never suffered from this before in my life. Over the last two weeks I have had another two doctors appointments as the whole of the backs of my legs are covered in an extremely itch, sore rash, and also to a smaller extent on my arms. The doctor immediately said it was a contact dermititis and asked if we had been sitting on any new chairs. It seems that I am highly allergic to something in our new sofa. I did ring the store to ask if they might be able to exchange the sofa, but they said there was nothing they could do! Do I have any rights to exchange our new purchase?

Aylesbury_Duck

Viv_D wrote: »

We bought a leather sofa from Sofology in March. April I needed a fungicidal cream from the doctors for a patch behind my left shoulder. In May I returned to the doctor who gave me a steroid cream for small patches of ecxcema on my leg, though I have never suffered from this before in my life. Over the last two weeks I have had another two doctors appointments as the whole of the backs of my legs are covered in an extremely itch, sore rash, and also to a smaller extent on my arms. The doctor immediately said it was a contact dermititis and asked if we had been sitting on any new chairs. It seems that I am highly allergic to something in our new sofa. I did ring the store to ask if they might be able to exchange the sofa, but they said there was nothing they could do! Do I have any rights to exchange our new purchase?

I don't think so, unless you can show the sofa is faulty or not fit for purpose. Specifically, it would have to be not fit for a required and known purpose. In other words, if you have told them that certain materials or finishes induce an allergic reaction and therefore you couldn't have a sofa made from them, then your sofa wouldn't be fit for purpose and you'd have some options. Without that, you're relying on goodwill and after five months, I doubt they'd help.

Have you considered a throw?

worried_jim

It's not a manufacturing fault. Maybe sell as nearly new and go the fabric route, ask to see hard wearing fabrics so you can maximise the life of the sofa to something as close to leather as possible.

bertiewhite

Is it worth trying throws on the sofa so you're not in direct contact?

JJ_Egan

Is your left shoulder in naked contact with the sofa .
Its not unusual for some people to be allergic to something thats normal for others .
I have plants in the garden that give the same CD .

mattyprice4004

It's not the retailer or sofa's fault you're allergic to it, so no - there's nothing they have to do.

coffeehound

There was a news story some years back about Chinese-made sofas from one of the big names that contained an anti-fungal which caused customers major skin problems. I don't know what the consumer-rights outcome was, but it would be worth looking up in case it's a similar problem.

hollydays

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Sofa-Dermatitis.aspx

https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/personal-injury-claim/faulty-products/sofa-rash/

unforeseen

hollydays wrote: »

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Sofa-Dermatitis.aspx

https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/personal-injury-claim/faulty-products/sofa-rash/

I assume that was posted as a bit of historical background as DMF has been banned in the EU since 2009

hollydays

unforeseen wrote: »

I assume that was posted as a bit of historical background as DMF has been banned in the EU since 2009

Well it does say that in the link....

oldagetraveller

coffeehound wrote: »

There was a news story some years back about Chinese-made sofas from one of the big names that contained an anti-fungal which caused customers major skin problems. I don't know what the consumer-rights outcome was, but it would be worth looking up in case it's a similar problem.

I remember that too. Possibly it was on BBC Watchdog?
Maybe the Wing Wang Furniture Co. are still at it?