5 year guarantee ?

[moonshadow]

I purchased Kettler garden furniture which had a 5 year guarantee and after 18 months small patches of rust started to appear so they gave me a replacement, no questions asked. Now three and a half years on the same patches have appeared. They initially said they would replace again and would deliver within two weeks. Today they have decided the guarantee on the second set would start from the date of the original purchase taking me over the 5 year guarantee so will not replace. I may be wrong but surely the guarantee should start from the day the second replacement set were delivered? Please forgive me if I haven't explained the situation clearly as it is a bit complicated. I would be really grateful for any help or advice.

[redman41]

Seek advice from your nearest Citizens Advice Bureaux.
In the meantime download this letter from 'The One Show'
as it was mentioned last night by Dom Littlewood the Consumer Help Advisor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer /2009/07/03/sale_of_goods_act_letter_downl.htm l
I have downloaded the letter myself for future use, just incase.
The Company have honoured their agreement once with a new replacement, but because that is also faulty you could ask CAB for advice first before sending the Company in question the above letter.

[moonshadow]

Thank you so much redman the information you have given is just what I have been looking for.

[barry1010]

The guarantee starts from the date of your initial purchase. You were guaranteed it would last five years and to all intents and purposes it has.
Had you bought a second warranty with the second set, then yes, that would be the start of another five years, but the original guarantee stands.

[Buenchico]

Redman41�s post might be misleading you. Your rights under the Sale of Goods Act are a completely separate matter from any guarantee that might be given.

Under your statutory rights, you�re entitled to the repair or replacement of a faulty item (for up to 6 years from the date of purchase) if it can be shown that the defect occurred due to an inherent fault (i.e. something which was wrong at the time of purchase). For the first 6 months after purchase there�s an automatic assumption (unless there�s clear evidence to the contrary) that any defect must be due to an inherent fault. Thereafter it�s up to the purchaser to show that the problem has arisen due to an inherent fault.

Where it can be shown that a defect has occurred due to an inherent fault (within the 6 year period), the retailer must remedy the problem, by repairing or replacing the item. So any rights you have under the Sale of Goods Act are with the shop or garden centre where you purchased the furniture, not with Kettler.

A guarantee is completely separate. It�s effectively a �gift� from the manufacturer (although, since you paid for the furniture and the accompanying guarantee it can be argued that you�ve bought a �service�, which the manufacturer is contractually obliged to provide). As such, the manufacturer is free to determine the terms of the guarantee. Kettler have either included a term stating that any guarantee runs only from the original purchase date or they�re relying on the fact that the �service� you purchased only gave them a contractual obligation to ensure that your furniture was kept in good condition for 5 years from that date. Either way, you haven�t got a leg to stand on.

Chris

[moonshadow]

Thanks Chris, to the rescue yet again. Your explanation makes things a lot clearer and when you look at it from the point of view Barry has given then I haven't a hope in hell. Looks like I'll have a trip to B&Q for a tin of Hammerite. Thanks for all your answers, J