Stair Lift Mess
Discussion
LivingTheDream said:
personal pendant alarm - yes absolutely. I just need to convince him he needs it and then get him to carry it. We gave him a mobile phone once as the equivalent, its turned off and in a drawer.
You could compromise with him... get one and attach it to the chair "just while we get this silly thing sorted" then it isn't about him (and he doesn't have to carry it)LivingTheDream said:
A designer from the company came out and there was some discussion about the best way to fit the lift. Anyway, Dad went ahead and had it fitted.
So the designer decided that their design would work for the stairwell.LivingTheDream said:
The installer showed him it working once finished and got my Dad to sit in it to lift him up - now it is very tight and as they went up, the installer had to move my Dad's foot out of the way of the newel post for clearance.
Except when it was fitted, it didn't. The designer had messed up.
LivingTheDream said:
The lift company said they would chop out some of the newel post to help which my Dad refused as its a period property with original staircase.
Not what was asked for originally and if it had been suggested then your father would have probably declined to buy. LivingTheDream said:
The designer came back the other day and said to my Dad that it wasn't fit for purpose and he would look at an alternative along with a reduced cost for the changes but when he spoke to the MD that all changed.
He now says theres nothing wrong with it and changing it would cost £2700.
So they can fix it without cutting the newel post, but they don't want to because it will cost them money to do fix the designer's mistake.He now says theres nothing wrong with it and changing it would cost £2700.
If it was me the company would be sending a letter suggesting they fix it before I got someone else to do so and took them to court for the costs.
Vaud said:
LivingTheDream said:
personal pendant alarm - yes absolutely. I just need to convince him he needs it and then get him to carry it. We gave him a mobile phone once as the equivalent, its turned off and in a drawer.
You could compromise with him... get one and attach it to the chair "just while we get this silly thing sorted" then it isn't about him (and he doesn't have to carry it)PF62 said:
LivingTheDream said:
A designer from the company came out and there was some discussion about the best way to fit the lift. Anyway, Dad went ahead and had it fitted.
So the designer decided that their design would work for the stairwell.LivingTheDream said:
The installer showed him it working once finished and got my Dad to sit in it to lift him up - now it is very tight and as they went up, the installer had to move my Dad's foot out of the way of the newel post for clearance.
Except when it was fitted, it didn't. The designer had messed up.
LivingTheDream said:
The lift company said they would chop out some of the newel post to help which my Dad refused as its a period property with original staircase.
Not what was asked for originally and if it had been suggested then your father would have probably declined to buy. LivingTheDream said:
The designer came back the other day and said to my Dad that it wasn't fit for purpose and he would look at an alternative along with a reduced cost for the changes but when he spoke to the MD that all changed.
He now says theres nothing wrong with it and changing it would cost £2700.
So they can fix it without cutting the newel post, but they don't want to because it will cost them money to do fix the designer's mistake.He now says theres nothing wrong with it and changing it would cost £2700.
If it was me the company would be sending a letter suggesting they fix it before I got someone else to do so and took them to court for the costs.
Thats pretty much where we are - He's asked them to sort it (and even said he would contribute). They're saying no (or quoting a ridiculous figure to fix)
elanfan said:
Just tell the installers that the newspapers both national and local will love a story like this, ask if they really want to go there. TheCusader in the Express would I’m sure get involved.
True - not sure the old man would fancy that idea. Not really his style but we'll see.It's a stair lift. It either lifts the customer safely up the stairs or it doesn't. If it doesn't it isn't fit for purpose. It is the suppliers duty of care to make sure the solution is technically correct, not the customers to make a decision. Go legal. Take a bit of advice, notice before action. Money claim online.
mr rusty said:
It's a stair lift. It either lifts the customer safely up the stairs or it doesn't. If it doesn't it isn't fit for purpose. It is the suppliers duty of care to make sure the solution is technically correct, not the customers to make a decision. Go legal. Take a bit of advice, notice before action. Money claim online.
You'd be surprised. There are a lot of instances where the customer will agree to sit a certain way or even duck under bulkheads etc. To some people a stairlift with compromises is better than no lift at all. 0ddball said:
You'd be surprised. There are a lot of instances where the customer will agree to sit a certain way or even duck under bulkheads etc. To some people a stairlift with compromises is better than no lift at all.
I used to also work for the market leader in the rail design department. As 0ddball quite rightly says, it is not uncommon for these work aroundsto be accepted by the customer, a customer who is largely desperate to get total use of their house back. In reality, these problems should not be
proposed by the Sales team, if they are doing their job with the correct diligence. Ultimately though, for the smaller companies money talks.
The Stairlift should stop once footrest safety edges are obstructed. Some can traverse in the opposite direction to avoid being stranded, others
need to manually be wound backwards with a safety handle.
Bottom line, the company is responsible, and should be putting this right or uninstalling at their own expense. In my experience.
Thought I should update this thread
We decided to simply pursue the 'not fit for purpose' stance and since Dad had emailed the company within 30 days to state this, assumed should be simple.
Dad instructed a solicitor as we were getting nowhere going back and forwards and ,maybe unsurprisingly, the first response was simply full of lies!!
They said they had not received the 'not fit for purpose' email - although they had received all the others.
They said the issues with Dad's foot catching was a result of deterioration of his health - not true.
They said they had designed it to be fitted differently but Dad had refused as it would limit access to his Bicycle (which is under the stairs) - Seriously! He can barely walk around downstairs - He hasn't used the bike in years!
What an awful company - happy to take a large percentage of Dad's remaining liquid assets (and then suggest charging more for alterations) and to lie about the whole process in order to keep it.
We decided to simply pursue the 'not fit for purpose' stance and since Dad had emailed the company within 30 days to state this, assumed should be simple.
Dad instructed a solicitor as we were getting nowhere going back and forwards and ,maybe unsurprisingly, the first response was simply full of lies!!
They said they had not received the 'not fit for purpose' email - although they had received all the others.
They said the issues with Dad's foot catching was a result of deterioration of his health - not true.
They said they had designed it to be fitted differently but Dad had refused as it would limit access to his Bicycle (which is under the stairs) - Seriously! He can barely walk around downstairs - He hasn't used the bike in years!
What an awful company - happy to take a large percentage of Dad's remaining liquid assets (and then suggest charging more for alterations) and to lie about the whole process in order to keep it.
Ha!! Whilst typing that update out we've had another update.
The MD has phoned and said they will be there tomorrow to remove the whole thing and they will refund his money!!
Lets hope they stick to it
Dad will be down a few quid through solicitors fees but at least the result is good - fingers crossed.
I have my fingers in a few pies work wise, including that of adaptations. I have a business doing all sorts of adapts work, eg wet room's as well as lifts.
I'll see 100's of lifts go in each yr.
my general experience of the private sector is they will sell any old junk and make it fit, to get a sale.
off topic, but showers and wetrooms also- I feel like I've pulled more out and refit them properly, due to "plumbers" having a go and thinking they know what they are doing.
they ignore (what you have experienced) the actual fit from seated back to foot position and width of staircases.
fitting lifts that stop the front door open in case of fire is another common issue.
overcharging is another, including service contracts.
if the lift was 2700- and its straight- you'd expect around £1200 as a proper price for a guaranteed, refurb'd one.
nothing wrong with refurb lifts either- often they are barely used before the customer sadly cannot use it anymore.
curved (round the corner) are much more as the tracks are custom fit although there is a sectional type build up system that can be used instead.
there are slim versions of lifts and tracks out there in the market place.
knowing staircase width and pics would help no end, if you want to continue.
I'd offer to help out, but Norfolk is too far away !
I'll see 100's of lifts go in each yr.
my general experience of the private sector is they will sell any old junk and make it fit, to get a sale.
off topic, but showers and wetrooms also- I feel like I've pulled more out and refit them properly, due to "plumbers" having a go and thinking they know what they are doing.
they ignore (what you have experienced) the actual fit from seated back to foot position and width of staircases.
fitting lifts that stop the front door open in case of fire is another common issue.
overcharging is another, including service contracts.
if the lift was 2700- and its straight- you'd expect around £1200 as a proper price for a guaranteed, refurb'd one.
nothing wrong with refurb lifts either- often they are barely used before the customer sadly cannot use it anymore.
curved (round the corner) are much more as the tracks are custom fit although there is a sectional type build up system that can be used instead.
there are slim versions of lifts and tracks out there in the market place.
knowing staircase width and pics would help no end, if you want to continue.
I'd offer to help out, but Norfolk is too far away !
LivingTheDream said:
Ha!! Whilst typing that update out we've had another update.
The MD has phoned and said they will be there tomorrow to remove the whole thing and they will refund his money!!
Lets hope they stick to it
Dad will be down a few quid through solicitors fees but at least the result is good - fingers crossed.
Has the MD put all that in writing?...especially the refund all his money, bit?The MD has phoned and said they will be there tomorrow to remove the whole thing and they will refund his money!!
Lets hope they stick to it
Dad will be down a few quid through solicitors fees but at least the result is good - fingers crossed.
Whats really galling is the approach this company takes - particularly with the vulnerability of its target market.
Any places worth putting an honest review - that won't get removed by them? I'd like to feel that we have put this in the public domain for others to get a view from both sides.
Unfortunately, given the target market (particularly in that area of the country) - online probably won't get viewed unless its by relatives but worth a try.
Any places worth putting an honest review - that won't get removed by them? I'd like to feel that we have put this in the public domain for others to get a view from both sides.
Unfortunately, given the target market (particularly in that area of the country) - online probably won't get viewed unless its by relatives but worth a try.
LivingTheDream said:
Whats really galling is the approach this company takes - particularly with the vulnerability of its target market.
Any places worth putting an honest review - that won't get removed by them? I'd like to feel that we have put this in the public domain for others to get a view from both sides.
Unfortunately, given the target market (particularly in that area of the country) - online probably won't get viewed unless its by relatives but worth a try.
A blog with some well selected key words? Google reviews tend not to get taken down if they are factual.Any places worth putting an honest review - that won't get removed by them? I'd like to feel that we have put this in the public domain for others to get a view from both sides.
Unfortunately, given the target market (particularly in that area of the country) - online probably won't get viewed unless its by relatives but worth a try.
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