When does a warranty period run out?

Beenie

We had bi-fold doors fitted two years ago. There was a problem with the frame within the first twelve months, causing a door to stick, and the company came back to fix it. The fix didn't work and we are having the same problem this year (door won't close). Company now says we're out of warranty and (basically) tough luck. What is the remedy? Our original purchase bumf talks about a ten year guarantee but the company isn't acknowledging that. Is there a simple solution?

Ectophile

What does the warranty say?  It's not uncommon that the 10-year part of a 10-year warranty only covers one specific bit of the doors, and not any of the bits that are most likely to go wrong.

tacpot12

If you have home insurance, I would check to see if you have legal expenses cover. If you do, you can call the legal helpline for advice. 

My own thought is that you have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 that might apply here, because an item like a set of bi-fold doors would expect to have a very long life span - certainly 10 years plus. 

After 6 months, the onus is on the consumer to show that the fault was present at the point of delivery. If you have any recollection of what the company said the cause of the fault was, write it down now.

Aylesbury_Duck

It sounds as if the problem is with the fitting itself, rather than the doors.  It sounds like the fitters have not got the frame trued up correctly, so it's pinching and not allowing the door to close.  That might make it a consumer rights matter with the fitting company, rather than a warranty claim from the manufacturer of the doors.

user1977

Beenie said:

Our original purchase bumf talks about a ten year guarantee 

What do you mean by "talks about"? Did you end up receiving a ten year guarantee? If so, is that from the manufacturer or the installer (or are they the same company)?

Westin

Have you looked to see if the doors have adjusters?   The heat (and cold) may expand the doors and a small adjustment on the hinges may be required to ensure a better close.  It is normally easily done with an Allen key. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Westin said:

Have you looked to see if the doors have adjusters?   The heat (and cold) may expand the doors and a small adjustment on the hinges may be required to ensure a better close.  It is normally easily done with an Allen key. 

Indeed, although there's a bit of an art to it.  It's easy to start adjusting away and make it worse, then not be able to get all the adjusters back to where they were.

OP, if you go down this route, mark each screw/Allen head with a tiny dot of paint, nail varnish or something similar at the 12 o'clock position, and if you complete revolutions, mark the number of turns and the direction in pencil so it can be rubbed off later. Then you have a reference for putting them all back if you make it worse.