Does section 75 apply when buying multiple items under a single order which together exceed £30k?

DarrowOLykos

We are buying replacement windows and doors for our house. The total order cost will exceed £30k. However, each item on the order will be in the region of £900 to £2500.

My understanding is that we will be protected for each item individually, rather than for the order as a whole, meaning we will not violate the £30k limit under Section 75. Is that correct? Do we need to do anything to ensure that we're protected (e.g. have the invoice list each item separately)? 

born_again

Best to speak to your lender on this. As it can be taken that as this is a single job. Despite being priced separately. 

retiredbanker1

Do you have separate contracts to fit the windows and doors?
Or are they all down on one contract - if so IMO you will have a bit of a job to claim under S75.

Like all things we are not legal eagles on here so why not take proper advice?

DarrowOLykos

retiredbanker1 said:

Do you have separate contracts to fit the windows and doors?
Or are they all down on one contract - if so IMO you will have a bit of a job to claim under S75.

Like all things we are not legal eagles on here so why not take proper advice?

Currently all under a single contract. However, the work is happening in phases because we're doing both the current house plus an extension that has yet to be built, so it would be both easy and justified to split the contract for those phases.  

Can't hurt to take some proper advice. I've booked a call with the Which? legal team that specialises in S75. It's enough money that I just want that little bit of extra certainty. It's like having free insurance. 

DarrowOLykos

retiredbanker1 said:

Do you have separate contracts to fit the windows and doors?
Or are they all down on one contract - if so IMO you will have a bit of a job to claim under S75.

Like all things we are not legal eagles on here so why not take proper advice?

Sorry, I actually misunderstood this. The windows and doors are being installed by any entirely separate company, so that is a separate contract. The supplier is not involved with installation. 

km1500

in my view it is a mistake to have supply by one company and then fit by a totally separate company because if anything goes wrong there could be arguments down the line about who is responsible

retiredbanker1

DarrowOLykos said:

retiredbanker1 said:

Do you have separate contracts to fit the windows and doors?
Or are they all down on one contract - if so IMO you will have a bit of a job to claim under S75.

Like all things we are not legal eagles on here so why not take proper advice?

Sorry, I actually misunderstood this. The windows and doors are being installed by any entirely separate company, so that is a separate contract. The supplier is not involved with installation. 

Purely my opinion here then,

You have a single contract to supply doors and windows in dribs and drabs but all in all costing over £30k so therefore no S75 claim.

You are paying someone else to install so the only cover here is for the installation - not for the actual windows and doors.

As has been stated if you run into problems the installer might well say that any fault is with the doors and windows not their work so good luck if anything goes wrong.

If it was me I would be getting the same people to do everything.

lr1277

Sorry to ask but you have found a supplier who will take a credit card as payment?

For that kind of amount,  I would have expected to have to pay by bank transfer. This is also based on one or two other threads I have seen on this forum.

Would you care to name the supplier in question?

eskbanker

lr1277 said:

Sorry to ask but you have found a supplier who will take a credit card as payment?

For that kind of amount,  I would have expected to have to pay by bank transfer. This is also based on one or two other threads I have seen on this forum.

Would you care to name the supplier in question?

The supplier only needs to accept a token payment by credit card (a penny would do) in order to achieve s75 coverage for the whole cost, provided of course that the £30K limit is complied with too.

DarrowOLykos

lr1277 said:

Sorry to ask but you have found a supplier who will take a credit card as payment?

For that kind of amount,  I would have expected to have to pay by bank transfer. This is also based on one or two other threads I have seen on this forum.

Would you care to name the supplier in question?

Yes, @eskbanker is right. They only need to take a token payment. I asked them about it and they said they can take payment by card over the phone.

Not willing to name the supplier in this thread because it's too much identifying information, but I'd be happy to name them by DM if you want to send me a message. 

DarrowOLykos

This is what Section 75 actually says. I have highlighted what I think is the relevant bit. I still plan to take proper advice but I think I am very likely to be able to get S75 protection, whether it be because the invoice is itemised or because I split different phases into different orders. I'll let you all know what they say.