itchy sofa

[znorth]

i bought a leather sofa from dfs about a year ago and the problems started from there. my little girl now 2 was getting this horrible rash all over her body and so we went to a fro to the doctors for over a 6 month period in which they said it was dermatitas,which she has now been sufferring for over a year.i was thinking could it be the couch as we still have it and my daughter still has this rash which seems to be getting worse and worse has time goes by they have named a few companys that have these certains couches but not dfs do you think i should still pursue this? any advice???

[bananie]

I think you would have to establish whether your daughters dermatitis is a direct result of contact with your sofa. if this cannot be established you would have no basis to sue DFS. there is a case of Grant v Australia Knitting Mills which involved itchy underpants (honest) and this would protect you under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 as a sale by description,which the sofa would not comply with. You would however require to establish that the sofa was the causation of the dermatitis in the first place.

[stonekicker]

hi, znorth. i think this topic was discussed by the bbc watchdog programme a few months back - might be worth looking at their website to see if they have any advice/help to offer you. hope this helps...

[Fay Mousse]

Try covering your sofa with a thick blankets topped with throws for a while.

Take photos of your daughter's dermatitis now and again in a month. If it is contact dermatitis caused by the sofa you should see definitie improvement quite quickly by taking her out of contact of the irritant.

Then you may have a case.

[haggisbasher]

Have a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/wat chdog/ and follow the link about sofas

That may help

[Omnicity]

Hi znorth

It is true that recent articles appeared in the press re the same issue you have had. Argos have withdrawn a particular brand of leather sofa, as the chemical used to treat the sofa prior tio sale had a negative dermatological effect on consumers.

If you approach a "no-win-no-fee" solicitor they will be able to deal with the issue and you may receive compensation, I even noticed a newspaper ad from one of the said solicitors advertising this fact.

Good luck, hope the wee one gets better soon.

CDB

[mastercaster]

I also bought 2 new leather sofa's from DFS 3 years ago, shortly after my 13 year old Daughter suffered severe skin rashes from head to toe,incorporating hair loss, I have now gathered lotsof information which I am taking to her dermatologist as he has said on numerous occasions that he has no idea just where this condition has come from. I have phoned DFS and they said that they do not use the offending product or use any anti moisture product in their furniture, personally I am not to sure, my pet cat has also suffered skin loss and has had to be treated at the Vets, again they do not know just why this condition has come to light.
I do accept that there are many different reasons why these conditions come to light, but the burning skin,hair loss and even pet ailments are very much a big coincidence in this case, not many cases are mentioning DFS but the numbers are indeed growing,pursue it by all means, but you will have to get Legal advice to get to the information that you may need to view to clarify this position, good luck,and look at it this way, would you expect DFS to admit liability even if thet were responsible, it doesnt work like that,good luck again,and make sure you do EVERYTHING to get to the bottom of this strange enigma.