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Abe
27-10-2002, 12:49 PM
All refrigeration engineers will be subject to this law. It would be useful to understand the law as it is applicable to us.

Under UK Law

SUPPLY OF SERVICES

The most important law covering services is the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.

This covers the work done and products supplied by tradesmen and professionals. It applies not only to builders and plumbers but to dentists, restaurants, hairdressers, in fact anybody who is supplying a service.

Like the Sale of Goods Acts, this law also imposes 'strict liability' on any materials used. If an electrician puts in a faulty light switch, it is irrelevant whether he knew the switch was not right - he still has to replace it and make good any damage done.

When it comes to the work carried out, the Act does not, in fact, give you any more rights than you have in common law, but it does lay them out clearly. It states that a tradesman or professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property; that any price or standard you agree must be honoured, and that, if not agreed in advance, the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a reasonable cost.

" There is no provision in the law for the time a job might take. "
This means that when you have not agreed a price, you do not have to accept a ridiculously large bill. All you have to do is pay what you consider 'reasonable' and invite them to sue you for the rest. The test of 'reasonableness' will be the charge that other similar tradesmen would make in your local area for the same job.

There is no provision in the law for the time a job might take.

OTHER CIVIL LAWS

The laws about goods and services are civil laws: no criminal acts are committed if they are broken, and it is up to you to enforce the law by using, or threatening to use, the civil courts (in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, the county court especially its small claims division, and the high court).

Here are some other civil laws that are worth knowing about:

UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS ACT
The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1994 allow consumers to challenge terms in any contract they have signed or entered into if a term seems unfair or unreasonable.

CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 allows people to claim compensation for death, injury or damage to property over£275 (apart from damage to the product itself) if a product they use turns out to be faulty. Action is usually against the manufacturer or producer, but you could sue the retailer if they will not tell you who the manufacturer is. This is another strict liability law, but claims for injury are complicated and you should always get legal advice before taking action.

frank
27-10-2002, 07:11 PM
Obviously, it is a good idea to have all of the relevant insurances in place, i.e. professional indemnity (if you are doing any design), public liability (if you damage anyone's property), employee's insurance (in case trhe people you employ get injured), and all risks insurance (in case your tools and equipment get nicked!).

is it really worth all the hassel ?