Has anyone come across a fake Bristan tap? PigletJohn?

[stripytees]

Bought new Bristan Colonial basin taps for the bathroom and had them fitted by an experienced plumber in October 2014. This week the cold tap was first really stiff and then stopped working correctly - sometimes it just turns in both directions and no water comes out.

A plumber looked at it today and said something in the gear head has gone wrong. He got it to work when pressing it to the side while turning it to open/close but can't fix it. He also wondered if it's possibly a fake/counterfeit tap as a real Bristan tap wouldn't go wrong so quickly? He also said usually the taps would have a white porcelain bit on top but this one has a white plastic one.

I've spoken to the online store I bought it from and they will get Bristan to send me a replacement part for it. (When I bought the taps, they were sent directly from Bristan.) I didn't mention the fake issue as I didn't want to be a difficult customer but now I'm wondering about it. Anyone ever come across that before? Or is it just one of those things, even a good brand will sometimes produce a faulty product?

I think it's unlikely to be a fake.

Especially as you say "When I bought the taps, they were sent directly from Bristan."

If the replacement parts don't fit, I would start to wonder why.

I have always found the quality to be very good. If you are suspicious, contact Bristan. Tell them who the online supplier was. If there is a fake problem, they will know about it. They may want to see copies of your paperwork (and the packaging, if you have it).

I just had a look in a box of Bristan taps, and the white index on the top does feel like porcelain (it is not glossy) and the black lettering is somewhat raised. However the box is not recent stock.

Yeah, I guess my thinking was anyone could send taps and say they were sent from Bristan... but the lady I spoke to today at the store I bought from was very helpful, I don't think they would have such good customer care if they were out to get a quick quid with fakes, just the plumber seemed suspicious.

These are the taps: www.tapstore.com/bristan-colonial-basin-taps.html

I think the top bit looks plastic in the photo too? The writing is kind of engraved rather than raised.

I just checked the Parts prices of the indices (the part with the hot/cold) on the Bristan website.

For the Colonial, it is much cheaper than for the Regency (the one I just looked at here). I will guess that the Regency has the ceramic part, and the Colonial has the plastic. The body of the tap should in both cases be chromed brass, and the cartridge is the same part for both taps, so the quality should otherwise be the same.

Colonial Basin Taps Chrome Plated
IND HD028PLWHB
Indice For Colonial (Pair)
£3.65

Regency Basin Taps Chrome Plated
IND HD046RBCPA
Indice (Pair)
£14.75