Bifold door key broke in lock - whose fault is it?

Woody1971

Just had bifold doors fitted and I came home to check out the new doors after the installer had already gone. I found they were locked and saw the key had been placed nearby so I put it in the door, unlocked it and opened it. When I went to close it again I saw that the key had broken and had scratched the other panel. This happened as the lock for the door is next to the hinge so if the key is left in when opening it will be broken. Needless to say I was upset. When I contacted my insurers they said it was the fitter's responsibility as he did not give any instructions or paperwork on the doors (the fitter had also been the one who sourced the doors from the manufacturer). The insurers may not cover this as they say it is the fitter's responsibility. The fitter says it is my fault as it is "obvious" I shouldn't have done that. No one else I've shown the doors to say they think it is obvious, including a friend in the building trade.

We've not paid until this is sorted but the fitter is angrily demanding payment. Does anyone know where I stand on this issue in regards to my consumer rights etc?

Thanks

Fosterdog

If you bought doors that were designed to be opened completely and flatten against each other then yes it would be obvious that anything protruding when it "closes" against the other panel will cause damage. I don't need to be told that if I open any of my doors fully without fitting a stopper the handle will bash against the wall and can damage the wall and the door, it's just obvious.

If they are not supposed to open fully and be flush against each other then it is a fitting error.

zoob

It’s your fault 100% why does everyone now want to pass the blame to someone else.
Normally keys are designed to open and close things and be removed after locking or unlocking
It’s like blaming a car dealer for your car being stolen because they didn’t inform you that you need to remove the keys when your not using the car

davidmcn

It sounds obvious to me (if rather poor design).

societys_child

This happened as the lock for the door is next to the hinge so if the key is left in when opening it will be broken.

Sounds like a bit of due care was needed . .

. . . whose fault is it?

c'mon, you already know.

RunningMum

pay the fitter!! he's done his job and fitted the doors....why are you with holding his payment when you broke the door?

Aylesbury_Duck

Woody1971 wrote: »

Just had bifold doors fitted and I came home to check out the new doors after the installer had already gone. I found they were locked and saw the key had been placed nearby so I put it in the door, unlocked it and opened it. When I went to close it again I saw that the key had broken and had scratched the other panel. This happened as the lock for the door is next to the hinge so if the key is left in when opening it will be broken. Needless to say I was upset. When I contacted my insurers they said it was the fitter's responsibility as he did not give any instructions or paperwork on the doors (the fitter had also been the one who sourced the doors from the manufacturer). The insurers may not cover this as they say it is the fitter's responsibility. The fitter says it is my fault as it is "obvious" I shouldn't have done that. No one else I've shown the doors to say they think it is obvious, including a friend in the building trade.

We've not paid until this is sorted but the fitter is angrily demanding payment. Does anyone know where I stand on this issue in regards to my consumer rights etc?

Thanks

I'm afraid you'll have to put this one down to user error. The fitter may not have left any instructions but it would have been sensible to understand how they work and how to use them correctly before using them.

Presumably the key is easily and cheaply replaced. How bad is the scratch? Can you live with it?

theonlywayisup

Woody1971 wrote: »

When I went to close it again I saw that the key had broken and had scratched the other panel.

You really have to focus yourself to understand that these acts didn't happen on their own, it was down to you.

Yes, you are to blame.

Woody1971

Unanimously everyone here on the forum says it is my fault. That is what I also thought when I did it, but the insurers made out it is the fitter's fault, hence my question to the forum.
The question was really about what consumer rights if any come into play here, especially if the insurance won't pay.
For information, the fitter quoted £490 to fix the issue. That was a very expensive "user error".

Aylesbury_Duck

Woody1971 wrote: »

Unanimously everyone here on the forum says it is my fault. That is what I also thought when I did it, but the insurers made out it is the fitter's fault, hence my question to the forum.
The question was really about what consumer rights if any come into play here, especially if the insurance won't pay.
For information, the fitter quoted £490 to fix the issue. That was a very expensive "user error".

I don't think any consumer rights come into play. The damage was caused by your negligence, not by a failing in the product or its fitting.

What does the £490 cover? Replacing the scratched glass/frame plus the key/lock?

Can you live with the scratch and just get the key replaced (and the lock if that was damaged)
?

Woody1971

£490 (plus VAT) is for replacing lock and replacing the damaged panel.
Yes, I could live with it as it is, but it doesn't look nice.
Thanks for the input. I did wonder what people thought about what the insurers said. I appreciate they may be trying to avoid paying by putting the blame elsewhere. But then again what does accidental cover include if not doing something like this by accident?