Should you take out the optional service maintenance contract most stairlift companies offer once your guarantee warranty has elapsed. If you are not covered by a Maintenance / Repair Cover Plan repair bills can be both inconvenient and costly.
No one ever mentioned how expensive these protection insurance plans costs. They just said don’t worry Peace of mind with an optional service contract is available once your warranty expires. Replacing broken or worn parts on your stair lift can often exceed the cost of a Service Maintenance Contract.
Annual stairlift maintenance contracts start at around (300-600) The lower price insurance packages will only give you very limited cover and without doubt you will need to pay for the extras! Call-out, Parts and Labour costs.
You really need to read this bit! Some companies charge you for traveling time. If you do not have a contract with the company you engage the services of. Make sure you ask if they charge for the engineers traveling time.
If they are not local and the engineer spends two hours travelling time to reach you then that’s a hefty bill! Average call-out price 80 per hour x 2 =160 and he hasn’t even arrived yet. Good chance you will get stung for the two hour return trip as well 80 x 4 =320 big ones.
Stairlift companies offer a range of maintenance service contracts rated by stars or colours. Obviously the more stars or metallic of colour the higher the price but more benefits and cover you receive. All contracts should include an annual service of your stair lift.
Personally I would recommend that you take some type of protection insurance cover out on your stairlift unless you have very deep pockets. It would be wise to use the company you originally purchased the stair lift from. Other companies might not have the service parts required to complete the service or repair of the unit.
In my next article I will explain what you actually get for your money when an engineer arrives to carry out an annual service of your stairlift. Keep your eyes peeled out for that one some good info to be had.
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