Quick legal question regarding replacement of faulty goods.

[Davey_Pitch]

Right, the GF has a Freeview box which recently stopped working. As her mum has the same box we were able to do some testing and it turns out the plug is the problem. Unfortunately, it's not a standard type of plug so I can't take it apart and change the fuse (not without potentially destroying the plug, brute force seems to be the only way to open it up). So, we've contacted Alba (Freeview is a Bush, who're owned by Alba), and they've advised that there will be a charge for sending us a new plug. Now, as far as I'm aware, the maker is under an obligation to replace faulty items free of charge within a specific period (I think it's 6 years, but not quite sure), but I'm not sure if this extends to things like a plug or not. Anyone have any ideas on this. We'll pay if we have to, but I'm sure the Sale of Goods act says something about it, just trying to find it now.

 

[Davey_Pitch]

Nothing to do with the manufacturer, everything to do with the supplier. Take it up with them. You have no contract of sale with the manufacturers.

Indeed, so I've just read. I'll take it up with them instead.

 

[Davey_Pitch]

Where did you pull that from?

I was wondering that myself, as it appears to be wholly incorrect.

To answer a few points raised in the thread. The box is, as you'd expect with a faulty product, just over a year old. I *could* cut the plug off and put a new one on, if I knew how to do that. It isn't a standard plug however, as we went around several electrical retailers at the weekend and none of them had a plug that would replace the faulty one.

As I said, we have no problems paying if we're meant to pay, but I would never expect a plug to fail in just over a year, especially when the 2nd identical box we have has lasted just as long, with just as much use. As the plug is faulty, with no obvious way of trying to fix it myself by replacing a fuse, I would expect them to replace it.