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Help With Letter Please

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horseshoes | 10:52 Mon 29th Apr 2013 | Civil
9 Answers
Please could somebody assist in writing a letter to a company who has supplied and fitted something which hasn't lasted a reasonable length of time. I know it's to do with the Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982 but I'm stuck on the bit about lasting a reasonable length of time.

I have to say:
What was bought
Where it was bought
What the problem is
What outcome I'd like (I don't want money I just want it put right)
Deadline to respond

But I want to say something like this: "The ...... Act 1982 requires our item to be fitted to a proper standard of workmanship. Furthermore [.. this is the bit I want help with]

Thank you in advance.
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What is the item if you don't mind me asking as a carpet would last a different amount of time to a fitted kitchen perhaps?
Question Author
Sharingan I merely need assistance from someone who may be used to such civil legalalities, to assist in feeding a phrase into the main body of the letter which I'm already happy with. The item is irrelevant as it is already established it has not lasted a "reasonable length of time".
Question Author
Sorry Sharingan, that reads back as being a bit terse; it's not meant to be:-)
I would simply put something along the lines of 'The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982 requires our item to be fitted to a proper standard of workmanship and to last a reasonable length of time. I consider in this instance that this has not been the case and would appreciate your rectification of the matter by means of a repair satisfactory to me by ...( insert date).''

I often get quotes for, order and sort out issues for several of the family businesses where the problem is not too complex and the 1982 act seems to be fairly straightforward saying this about 'reasonable length of time'.
What is reasonable?
It can be difficult to know what is deemed as being 'reasonable'. Here are some ways you can find out.
To get guidance on reasonable standards of work, contact a trade or professional association. If goods are being installed as part of the service, you could contact the manufacturers.
You could also ask an independent expert for an opinion on the work, or to test a repair. But be aware that this can be expensive and you may not always get your money back from the trader, even if the expert supports your case.
To get guidance on how long a job should take, ask other traders how long they would take to do the work.
If you haven't agreed a price and the trader appears to be charging too much, ask other traders how much they would charge to do the same job.
With regard to any goods which are supplied at the same time, any goods or parts fitted as part of the service or work contract must be:
as described
of satisfactory quality
fit for their purpose.
Question Author
I would simply put something along the lines of 'The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982 requires our item to be fitted to a proper standard of workmanship and to last a reasonable length of time. I consider in this instance that this has not been the case and would appreciate your rectification of the matter by means of a repair satisfactory to me by ...( insert date).''

Excellent Sharingan! That's just the job.
Hope you get it sorted xx
Horseshoes, can i just add a suggestion, do you mind?

I would leave out the words "I consider". Its stronger if that sentence starts with....In this instance....and sounds like a fact rather than an opinion.

Hope it works and you get it put right.
Question Author
Good point Maydup, thank you.
I think the exact wording is under S4 and reads:
For the purposes of this section and section 5 below, goods are of satisfactory quality if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking account of any description of the goods, the price (if relevant) and all the other relevant circumstances.
We come to that reasonable person again who according to Lord Devlin is the man on the Clapham omnibus.

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