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Acorn Stairlifts

Anyone out ther with similar experience?

My father had an Acorn 'Curved' Stairlift installed in May 2022 at a princely price of £4500. He was pestered to takeout an service contract at an annual premium of £425. He declined. He had the 12 month service in June which was part of the initial purchase agreement. 5 weeks later the stairlift failed, incurring a £225 call out fee and £220 parts repair bill. Apparently, a lithium battery need replacement.

The annual premium for joining the service paln is now £495.

If you had a bolier installed and took out a service plan would it equate to this?

To me this doesn't smell right and actually stinks of a company taking advantage of an older persons vulnerability.

If anyone else out there has had similair experience we should form a group to expose this unsavoury business stragey.

Comments

  • Newcad
    Newcad Posts: 1,505 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I would be querying why the 12 month service hadn't picked up the failing batery, and asking for a refund of the call out charge to fix it.
    I'm not sure about the parts charge though, that would depend on if the 12 month service covered parts or not.
    And I'd be looking for an independent company or handyman for the future, they are usually cheaper than the original manufacturer for repairs, and for anual cleaning/testing/servicing if you do want that now.
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,505 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 27 July 2023 at 6:43PM
    Online, two batteries required by Acorn, cost £46 on a website dealing in just stairlift spares and £24 at a general dealer in cheap batteries, but these are probably the old kind.

    Batteries for curved track versions are ion and much more expensive, though, at £230, reduced from £270, for two. However, Youtube videos say they are easy to fit, so if the problem happens again, it may be worth taking the suspect battery to a local equipment shop, for testing.

    Just over a year seems rather short for an expensive type of battery, so it may be possible to claim for it as 'not fit for purpose'.
  • MouldyOldDough
    MouldyOldDough Posts: 2,465 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    How did she pay ?
    Using a credit/debit card ?
    Contact the card suppliers and use charge back if necessary / Section 75
    You need to inform the company first that this is the route that you are taking - they will most likely concede at this point..
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