Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaun
No, it has to last a "reasonable amount of time". Most people would say you'd not expect to replace your kettle every 3 months. 
Saying that if a shop is trying to pull a swift one and you've not bought from them yet just steer clear  |
What he said.
According to the relevant Act, the goods must last for a reasonable amount of time after purchase. This is not defined, but can be up to six years, and depends on the value and purpose of the goods.
3 months is incredibly stingy and I'd be unsure - here's why. Normally, the fault has to be proved by the consumer as inherent (ie, existing at purchase) for a claim to be made under the Sale of Goods Act (in other words, not fit for purpose). However, in the first six months this is reversed - in other words, the fault is considered as inherent unless the retailer can prove otherwise.
Normally the above is not an issue, since the remedies are repair of the goods or replacement (whichever is mutually convenient, considering cost implications of either option) and within the first year this is likely to be covered under manufacturer's warranty anyway.
Remember though, that warranties are
in addition to statutory rights not instead of them. So, that policy is probably perfectly legal, because there is no real legal framework on what is essentially a guarantee that you will get proper operation from the product and if you don't, then the product will be fixed.
However, that doesn't stop you making a claim against the retailer under the sale of goods act because that is what the law entitles you to do - and if it goes wrong between 3 and 6 months
That said, a kettle is so friggin cheap that it's hardly worth bothering, when I got mine I got change from a tenner.
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