Warranty expired / Consumer Rights

Grzzz

Hello,

I purchased a new high-end home dehumidifier on 17/09/2019 for £288.95 - the unit came with a 3 year warranty.

In December 2023 the unit stopped working, with the display showing a C8 error, and I contacted the distributor from whom I'd purchased the unit to find out what this was. They confirmed that it was a broken internal pipe and couldn't be fixed. As the warranty was expired, they were not prepared to replace the unit, but offered me a 20% discount if I purchased a replacement from them.

Having looked deeper into warranties, I came across the Consumer Rights Act, which I understand "trumps" the warranty, in this case particularly point no.4:

1) A satisfactory quality;

2) As described;

3) Fit for purpose, and

4) Last a reasonable length of time (I would have thought that a piece of equipment costing almost £300 should last longer than just over 4 years)

I wrote back to the distributor, quoting this, but they replied with their previous response "out of warranty....20% discount on a new unit"

Question is, should I leave it there (and take the hit), or do I have a possible case under the CRA? If so, what should my next step be?

Thanks

BoGoF

Sorry but a £289 dehumidifier cannot be described as high end. Watched a programme recently and a model costing more than that was described as budget.

As the product is more than 6 months old the onus is on you to show it was an inherent fault. An internal pipe can break for many reasons including wear and tear. Was it 'well used' ?Assuming you clear that hurdle you are left with the remedy options, one of which could be a refund that would be reduced for the usage you have had. Realistically how much is an over 4 year old appliance that cost £289 worth now. Not a lot.

Really depends on your appetite to pursue things, which may include getting an independent report for the sake of what could potentially be £50 - which isn't far off 20% of a new model?

Undervalued

Grzzz said:

Hello,

I purchased a new high-end home dehumidifier on 17/09/2019 for £288.95 - the unit came with a 3 year warranty.

In December 2023 the unit stopped working, with the display showing a C8 error, and I contacted the distributor from whom I'd purchased the unit to find out what this was. They confirmed that it was a broken internal pipe and couldn't be fixed. As the warranty was expired, they were not prepared to replace the unit, but offered me a 20% discount if I purchased a replacement from them.

Having looked deeper into warranties, I came across the Consumer Rights Act, which I understand "trumps" the warranty, in this case particularly point no.4:

1) A satisfactory quality;

2) As described;

3) Fit for purpose, and

4) Last a reasonable length of time (I would have thought that a piece of equipment costing almost £300 should last longer than just over 4 years)

I wrote back to the distributor, quoting this, but they replied with their previous response "out of warranty....20% discount on a new unit"

Question is, should I leave it there (and take the hit), or do I have a possible case under the CRA? If so, what should my next step be?

Thanks

In a way yes. However.....

Any manufacturer's / distributor's warranty is offered in addition to your statutory rights and is on whatever terms were offered when you bought it. So your warranty has expired.

Your statutory rights are against whoever you bought this from, not the manufacturer (unless you bought it direct).

As has been said by an earlier poster, you will need to show (normally by way of an expert report) that this was an inherent fault. Even then the value of any claim would be reduced to take account of the amount of use it has had against its reasonable lifetime. 

So your claim would be for far less than the purchase price and you would be gambling with the cost of the report. If it is in your favour then the reasonably cost of a report can be added to your claim.

Is it worthwhile?

Would a local repair company be able to fix the pipe if the proper spare part isn't available. If so that may be the way to go?

Grzzz

Thanks. I'll try the local repair option

ArbitraryRandom

I would think a fair resolution would be the 20% not as a discount but as a refund - based on the product having a reasonable lifespan of 5 years. 

Worth suggesting, but as above they don't need to agree unless you go through the required steps to establish your rights.