VictoriaPlum is under new ownership - what are my rights?

FabsFerr

Hello all! 

In March 2023 I had my bathroom redone with VictoriaPlum. In October they were bought by AHK Designs. 
I was supposed to have a 2 year warranty on the bathroom but as of October it is impossible to get hold of anyone. Even if I did, I am not sure the new owner would honour the warranty. 

Any suggestions on what to do and should the warranty still be valid?

Thanks!

Aylesbury_Duck

Does the warranty paperwork say anything about the eventuality?  Normally, unless a warranty is backed by insurance, it lasts as long as the company that offered it.  What's happened to VP? Did it shut down or was it simply taken over?  If the latter, it's possible the warranty is still 'live'.

Do you actually have a problem, or are you just curious about the warranty at this stage?  You still have consumer rights, and may have other options if you paid any of the cost on a credit card or through finance.

user1977

If you had a contract with the "old" Victoria Plum i.e. Victoria Plum Limited (who appear to be the previous trading entity), they're in administration: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04177694

So if you had a claim, it would be against the administrators (assuming the warranty was simply one by the company rather than backed by an insurance company or anybody else). As above, you may have backup if you bought with credit.

ashe

Did you pay any of it on finance or credit card?

eddddy

As above, Victoria Plum went into administration and their business and assets were transferred/sold to AHK Designs.

But it's extremely unlikely that the transfer would have included any of Victoria Plum's warranty obligations.

But maybe it's worth considering...

• Any manufacturers' warranties should still be valid (e.g. If you bought a power shower that came with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty)

• If you paid using finance, the finance provider might have liability

• The warranty might be insurance backed (i.e. if something breaks, you claim on an insurance policy) - but that seems unlikely

• AHK might voluntarily honour Victoria Plum's warranties - as a gesture of goodwill, and/or to protect the reputation of the 'Victoria Plum' brand - but again, that seems a bit unlikely

AndyC007

I'm in similar situation, had our bathroom completely done by Victoria Plum in Sept 2022. 2 months ago we contacted them about a replacement for defective bathroom cabinet. Victoria Plum has gone M.I.A. despite several emails. Joke of a company 

born_again

AndyC007 said:

I'm in similar situation, had our bathroom completely done by Victoria Plum in Sept 2022. 2 months ago we contacted them about a replacement for defective bathroom cabinet. Victoria Plum has gone M.I.A. despite several emails. Joke of a company 

They went bust. So you have no claim against the new owners.
Normal practise when a company goes bust, but someone buys the name.
https://www.cityam.com/victoria-plum-sold-in-pre-pack-administration-deal-to-owner-of-beds-co-uk/

So not a joke company, just one that went bust.

DullGreyGuy

FabsFerr said:

Hello all! 

In March 2023 I had my bathroom redone with VictoriaPlum. In October they were bought by AHK Designs. 
I was supposed to have a 2 year warranty on the bathroom but as of October it is impossible to get hold of anyone. Even if I did, I am not sure the new owner would honour the warranty. 

Any suggestions on what to do and should the warranty still be valid?

Thanks!

AHK Designs didnt buy them, they bought certain aspects of the business but not the whole company. 

Your warranty remains with the original company which is still in administration, you will be an unsecured creditor to them if you have a warranty claim to make before the company is liquidated and as such you'd be lucky to get a couple of percentage points of whatever the value of the claim was for. The only exception would be if the warranty was provided by an insurance company in which case the administration is unlikely to make any difference - the paperwork would identify who provides the warranty.