What rights do I have?

Chucksmum

I bought a 3 way kitchen tap costing £165.83 4 years ago, after 2 years the drinking water outlet started to drip. As the company had no parts for the tap and as it was only just out of warranty they said they would instal a new tap if I would pay labour costs £47.95, I agreed to this. Now, another 2 years and the tap is dripping again and again they have no parts. I was told that it could be caused by the water pressure being too high so if I would pay for a pressure valve to be fitted about £150 this could rectify the problem. The pressure valve was fitted on Friday, the tap is still dripping. The engineer didn't take any money from me, he was going to report back to the office and they would ring me. I'm still waiting for the call. I'm sure the company are not trying to scam me as they are well known local company but surely I should expect more than 4 years from a tap that has cost me £213.78 so far could be £363.78. Can anyone tell me please what I should expect from this company?

Sandtree

The tap cost £165.83... you could have paid the rolls royce of plumber to fit it for an astronomical sum and it would still be a £165.83 tap when considering what a reasonable lifespan should be.

Presumably they are saying the valve has gone, possibly caused by high pressure? Whilst the manufacturer says they dont have parts have you checked the 3rd party sector? Many companies make different size/shape valves to fit various brands of taps. 

Chucksmum

This tap is their own brand tap so difficult to find a replacement part and if they are available why hasn't the company got some?

Sandtree said:

The tap cost £165.83... you could have paid the rolls royce of plumber to fit it for an astronomical sum and it would still be a £165.83 tap when considering what a reasonable lifespan should be.

Presumably they are saying the valve has gone, possibly caused by high pressure? Whilst the manufacturer says they dont have parts have you checked the 3rd party sector? Many companies make different size/shape valves to fit various brands of taps. 

JJ_Egan

 (d if they are available why hasn't the company got some)

No laws say they have to stock parts .

Available parts may not be the same make ie third party .

( I would pay for a pressure valve to be fitted about £150 this could rectify the problem)

Thats a could not would .You will have to see if they will charge or not .

I take it these repairs have been under warranty , not the law your Consumer Rights .

Chucksmum

JJ_Egan said:

 (d if they are available why hasn't the company got some)

No laws say they have to stock parts .

Available parts may not be the same make ie third party .

( I would pay for a pressure valve to be fitted about £150 this could rectify the problem)

Thats a could not would .You will have to see if they will charge or not .

I take it these repairs have been under warranty , not the law your Consumer Rights .

I have had a pressure valve fitted, the tap is still leaking. As the company has tried to rectify the dripping without the parts I would assume there are no parts available for this tap. What consumer rights do I have in this case?

born_again

If it was just out of warranty 2 years ago. Then it is now a further 2 years out of warranty.

I would very much doubt that the washers used are custom made. So maybe turn the water off take the washer out and go to somewhere that sells washers. Or if ceramic, then the unit.

You sure it is not just a generic tap rebranded as one of their own?

Any links to the tap?

Chucksmum

born_again said:

If it was just out of warranty 2 years ago. Then it is now a further 2 years out of warranty.

I would very much doubt that the washers used are custom made. So maybe turn the water off take the washer out and go to somewhere that sells washers. Or if ceramic, then the unit.

You sure it is not just a generic tap rebranded as one of their own?

Any links to the tap?

I am a 75 years old widow, deconstructing taps is not one of my skills. This would again entail a cost by using a plumber. Surely a washer or ceramic unit should have a longer life span than 2 years?

Carrot007

Chucksmum said:

I was told that it could be caused by the water pressure being too high so if I would pay for a pressure valve to be fitted about £150 this could rectify the problem. The pressure valve was fitted on Friday, the tap is still dripping.

So they admitted they fitted an inapropriate tap and you then agreed to pay more to maybe recify it?

It's well out out warranty now, find a decent plumber and buy a £30 tap from toolstation that works.

(Actually pay what you want for a tap but really this sounds liek a company to avoid).

pbartlett

To answer your specific question - you have no consumer rights - you have had the tap for 4 years. 

bris

pbartlett said:

To answer your specific question - you have no consumer rights - you have had the tap for 4 years. 

Of course she has consumer rights, she just has to know how to use them. Getting the right result is a different matter but the route is there to go down with the right report.