Wylex product recall - change of process?

[kevben]

i've recently come across a flat development (12 x flats + landlord cu), all with product recall serial no's. Contacted Electrium to see if the same incentive & process was still in place for installations installed by others.
i was told that the same as richy3333 that the original process had stopped ie £75/recall.
i told them it wasn't worth my time (obviously) - buying replacement mcb's & fitting for F/A!!!
there loss!!!

 

[cogsey133]

Colshaws - will do. No response from Electrium yet...

timo1 - Sale of Goods doesn't apply in this scenario as the customer did not purchase the board. I guess it will be The Consumer Protection Act?

I take it the customer didn't request the work to be done either. If they did wouldn't the 1982 sale of goods and services act come into play? I know its an academic question as the customer doesn't know the name of the electrician who did the work. What i am asking is this if we as sparks fitted a board with faulty breakers then even if we didn't purchase the board and only fitted it where do we stand legally.

I think the customer would be the one to contact wylex for example as they bought materials but if wylex have a known issue then can you be brought to task under sale and supply of goods and services? If yes then wylex have put you in this position so do you have course of redress against them?

Ps i know we would change them as part of the service anyway it is a purely academic question

 

[richy3333]

Cogsey,
In your scenario:

You 'didn't' knowingly fit faulty breakers. The product defect comes to light after the fact. I guess if you knew subsequently that the breakers might be faulty/part of the recall you might have a duty to notify the customer that the board they purchased, but you fitted was art of the product recall. I think it would then be for the customer to pursue Electrium for the replacement breakers, and as you originally installed them, possibly ask you to change them over.

With regards to the Supply f Goods and Services Act in the scenario, you didn't supply goods, only services - fitting the board. The defective product doesn't arise as a result of your services/fitting, but a defective product that is part of a product recall.

 

[cogsey133]

Would the service you provided in good faith not be deemed to be inadequate as faulty goods were fitted? Again academic question as i can see a scenario where the customer may get uppity and try go down that route just to try the avoidance of paying out for new breakers.

p.s. with hindsight this is not entirely an academic question as a very similar situation did arise with one company i used to work for....lol

 

[sjhall]

I'm in a similar situation, I had 20 Boards to check for faulty breakers, I've gotten through 10 so far and have now been informed that the I'll not be paid for the other 10, only reimburses for any breakers I swap..... So it looks like the other 10 boards will not be checked... I'm not a charity, and as far as I'm concerned, once I post addresses of final 10 to wylex, it's in their hands.

 

[vjsmarwick]

Ok I have been fitted with a short fuse so my attack line would be send them an email stating that they have a major problem on their hands because if the do not pay for the breakers being replaced any problems with electrical equipment and safety in the house is now their responsibility as the breakers are there to safeguard equipment and people alike and I am sure that over the years when the freezer or the washing machine etc etc finally fail the customer had been advised to take the issue up with then. I would also state that in my mind its very unreasonable to put other people's lives at risk because they are trying to save a few pounds because of their mistake and that i are taking no responsibility because I had done my duty of care by notifying them and the customer of the problem but as I did not fit the installation I am not responsible for it the only people at fault are them for the manufacture of the faulty goods and the responsibility lays at their feet alone.
Then state a copy has been sent to trading standards and citizens advice for their views and to make sure every one is aware it's not my responsibility.


Here ends the sermon for today amen.

 

[richy3333]

Received the information pack from Electrium yesterday. According to their instructions I have to remove the faulty breakers and send them back, where upon they will send out replacement breakers for me to fit. Err, what does the customer do in the meantime - no breakers, no electricity! Blinding

 

[leekemp85]

What happens if a board does set of fire. I did a new install in 2009-2010 and forgot that I had installed a wylex board. Today the Bloke called me to say his C/U started buzzing then set on fire. I attended with in a hour and the board was burnt and a fire had started.
I change the board and hes okay as no damage was done to to room. But its very lucky that he was in the house.
My only concern is that it looks like it was the 32amp breaker that was at fault (16amp is the highest breaker in the recall)unless the 16amp that is next to it generated enough heat to set the 32 amp a light. I've not split the board down I've left it as it was. Everything has been retested and the results and within 0.03 from the test on Jan 2010.
What would you guys and gal's recommend me to do. The man lives alone the board as been okay for nearly 3 years. he uses very little power,
after the power was reinstated everything when back on with out any problem. I expected a faulty appliance, but there was nothing?

 

[richy3333]

Sue the arse out of Wylex. ****e products!
They didn't respond to my email or recorded delivery letter.

 

[leekemp85]

I need something to happen it looks to me like the mcb melted from the inside.