Undersold Electric Heaters

Rob2kewl

HI everyone,

I bought 4 electric heaters from an online heating specialist site. I bought them based on the wattage for the suggested room sizes they listed for the heaters I purchased on the website.

My bedrooms are roughly 3m square and they said they (500w) are said to be suitable for up to 5m square.

They are not suitable and I've been very cold. An email from them today said I should have bought 1000w at least and they "recommend sourcing supplementary heating for these spaces.".

Turns out, they do not accept returns if the heaters have been turned on, (even plugged in) unless they are faulty. Also, an added issue is that I no longer have the boxes. (I do for the towel rail but as this has been wall-mounted and hooked up to the mains I doubt they'll accept that)

The 3 I need to replace cost roughly £620 (plus £40 towel rail installation). Replacements would cost £690 + installation costs.

They are reluctant to replace or accept a return or even discuss one. I'm asking for ways for them to help me out as I believe I was missold items but does anyone have any advice?

(The 4th heater was one in the living room where I (luckily) bought a larger wattage than advised as it would fit in the space better, phew!)

eskbanker

Rob2kewl said:

I bought 4 electric heaters from an online heating specialist site. I bought them based on the wattage for the suggested room sizes they listed for the heaters I purchased on the website.

My bedrooms are roughly 3m square and they said they (500w) are said to be suitable for up to 5m square.

They are not suitable and I've been very cold. An email from them today said I should have bought 1000w at least and they "recommend sourcing supplementary heating for these spaces.".

To what extent can you demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale?  Is there a website that we can look at?

Alderbank

Check your maths.

The (rough) rule of thumb is about 100W per square metre, so a 500W heater (quite a small one) would heat 5 square metres, about the size of a small bathroom. 
5 square metres is not the same as 5 metres squared!
A bedroom 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft) would need about 1,000W.

The radiators don't sound to be faulty but if they have told you porky pies regarding your rights to cancel the contract you can return them for a refund.

What exactly do you have (in writing) about cancelling the contract?

Rob2kewl

eskbanker said:

Rob2kewl said:

I bought 4 electric heaters from an online heating specialist site. I bought them based on the wattage for the suggested room sizes they listed for the heaters I purchased on the website.

My bedrooms are roughly 3m square and they said they (500w) are said to be suitable for up to 5m square.

They are not suitable and I've been very cold. An email from them today said I should have bought 1000w at least and they "recommend sourcing supplementary heating for these spaces.".

To what extent can you demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale?  Is there a website that we can look at?

Last time I posted a link I got banned for advertising

eskbanker

Rob2kewl said:

eskbanker said:

Rob2kewl said:

I bought 4 electric heaters from an online heating specialist site. I bought them based on the wattage for the suggested room sizes they listed for the heaters I purchased on the website.

My bedrooms are roughly 3m square and they said they (500w) are said to be suitable for up to 5m square.

They are not suitable and I've been very cold. An email from them today said I should have bought 1000w at least and they "recommend sourcing supplementary heating for these spaces.".

To what extent can you demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale?  Is there a website that we can look at?

Last time I posted a link I got banned for advertising

It's hardly advertising to name the company in this scenario - you're not forced to but it obviously compromises anyone's ability to offer specific guidance, beyond 'you need to be able to demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale', if you're asking for advice about how to construct a misselling claim.

Rob2kewl

Alderbank said:

Check your maths.

The (rough) rule of thumb is about 100W per square metre, so a 500W heater (quite a small one) would heat 5 square metres, about the size of a small bathroom. 
5 square metres is not the same as 5 metres squared!
A bedroom 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft) would need about 1,000W.

The radiators don't sound to be faulty but if they have told you porky pies regarding your rights to cancel the contract you can return them for a refund.

What exactly do you have (in writing) about cancelling the contract?

Well, that's confusing

I was told "If the radiators have been unboxed and used in anyway, then they cannot be returned unless their is a fault."

Ignoring the incorrect there, it does say this on the "No Quibble Money Back Guarantee"

"The items must not have been used or installed and must be returned with all their original packaging."

Alderbank

If that is all they have told you and you want to return the radiators, tell them that you are cancelling the contract under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and see what they have to say.

It sounds like this online heating specialist site is aimed at the trade and does not expect retail customers. That does not affect your statutory rights though.

Rob2kewl

eskbanker said:

Rob2kewl said:

eskbanker said:

Rob2kewl said:

I bought 4 electric heaters from an online heating specialist site. I bought them based on the wattage for the suggested room sizes they listed for the heaters I purchased on the website.

My bedrooms are roughly 3m square and they said they (500w) are said to be suitable for up to 5m square.

They are not suitable and I've been very cold. An email from them today said I should have bought 1000w at least and they "recommend sourcing supplementary heating for these spaces.".

To what extent can you demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale?  Is there a website that we can look at?

Last time I posted a link I got banned for advertising

It's hardly advertising to name the company in this scenario - you're not forced to but it obviously compromises anyone's ability to offer specific guidance, beyond 'you need to be able to demonstrate that their advice differs pre- and post-sale', if you're asking for advice about how to construct a misselling claim.

It's Electric Radiators Direct

I did say "I need 2x 3m square for the bedrooms and 1x 5m square for the Living Room  (2x500w and 1x 2000w)" in an email to customer service pre-purchase.

But apparently I don't know my metres squared so that's not great

littleboo

https://www.electricradiatorsdirect.co.uk/ - these people?

Rob2kewl

littleboo said:

https://www.electricradiatorsdirect.co.uk/ - these people?

yeah, that's the one. Only retailer in the UK for the model I wanted

eskbanker

Rob2kewl said:

I did say "I need 2x 3m square for the bedrooms and 1x 5m square for the Living Room  (2x500w and 1x 2000w)" in an email to customer service pre-purchase.

But I thought your case was that they'd told you which ones you needed for your requirement?