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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think they are taking this is just a bit mean.

30 replies

Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:23

Our nice independent electrical shop has closed down so to get my washing machine repaired I had to phone a different company - bigger with a call centre. The door no longer locks so it won't start. Call out fee was 55 plus vat which was a bit of shocker but I thought it was worth it to get machine fixed. Man came today. Turned out he lives round the corner and came to us first thing. Took about 5 mins to see what part was needed. Took my card details to take payment. Call centre rang me at work to say the part was not avaiable any longer and they couldn't fix my machine.

So £55 plus vat for SFA. I asked the woman I spoke to if they would be charging me the full amount and she said that yes, of course they would.

That is a bit unfair don't you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:24

Title was going to be 'taking the piss' but thought that was a bit much for a thread title - hence the wierd meaningless gibberish.

OP posts:
Mamazonhereggsclucking · 13/04/2011 12:26

bit pants, yes.

BristolJim · 13/04/2011 12:27

Sounds pretty standard to me.

AKissIsNotAContract · 13/04/2011 12:27

It's rarely worth getting them fixed. My advice is to get a cheap washing machine and bin it when it's knackered. It's bad for the environment but sadly they aren't built to last.

dearyme · 13/04/2011 12:28

should have looked in yellow pages for a local man that does

LindyHemming · 13/04/2011 12:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShatnersBassoon · 13/04/2011 12:29

Yes, that's rubbish.

Do you know what part you need? Would it be possible to buy one on ebay or somewhere and get the man from around the corner to fit it?

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 13/04/2011 12:29

Well the man did come out and see what needed doing. It must be quite an old machine if the parts aren't manufactured anymore.

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:30

akiss - I hate throwing things out though. I will buy a reconditioned one. We had a reconditioned Bosch that lasted us 11 years. This one was with the house when we moved in last summer.

I did look for a man who does deary. Couldn't find one in the local area.

OP posts:
TheMonster · 13/04/2011 12:30

It's a bit pants but you had a call-out and were charged a call-out fee.

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:30

I don;'t know how old it is. It doesn';t look old TBH

OP posts:
JJ · 13/04/2011 12:32

Is the part really no longer available? Look at the UK white goods site and maybe ask in their forum. Or check eBay.

HipHopopotomus · 13/04/2011 12:33

I feel your pain.

We just paid £50 to get an orange warning light turned off on our car - came on to tell us an exhaust sensor may need to be replaced at some point in the future. But until you take the car into a shop, pay £50 & get it hooked up to a machine to 'read the fecking computer', you have no idea if it's a proper problem or an imagined one.

Whether the guy lives around the corner from you or not is irrelevant as far as call out fee goes I guess. Could you argue that as they knew it was a door lock issue before they came out, and they can't repair the door, they should have known this before coming out (ie done a little research into availability of spare parts for doors on your machine) and therefore shouldn't be charging you call out fee?

AKissIsNotAContract · 13/04/2011 12:34

£350 for a repair?! My machine only cost me £200!

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:34

Thanks JJ I will have a look. It's an LG door we need.

OP posts:
fluffyanimal · 13/04/2011 12:35

Sorry, YABU. A call out fee covers the man's time for investigating the problem. He needs to get paid - nobody knows whether he'll be there looking at it for 5 minutes or an hour, or how far he'll have to travel to the appointment. It doesn't guarantee that he'll be able to fix it.

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:36

Ooh no fluffy. They charged labour on top!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 12:37

And they did know how far he's have to travel. Round the corner!

OP posts:
sooz28 · 13/04/2011 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 14:19

Right. I have had a look and I can't get the bit we need at all. We need either a new door or a new latch and they are not available.

But I have sourced a reconditioned Bosch Maxx for £170 including delivery and installation and taking the old one away. We had one of those before, reconditioned, and it lasted us about 9 years. So I am happy now.

OP posts:
HipHopopotomus · 13/04/2011 15:04
HHLimbo · 13/04/2011 16:18

Nice little wheeze for them there! Might set myself up as a repair woman and do the same thing! Cheeky.

OkeeDoeKee · 13/04/2011 17:00

I think it's pretty standard. If you look at the small print it will say that the initial cost is for the call out and it doesn't include any further visits or parts. When my dishwasher broke down the call out fee on it's own was £100 and I was fully aware if any further work needed doing I would have to pay on top or conversely they could just turn up and say it was unrepairable and I would still be £100 out of pocket and have to pay for a new one.

Consequently google is my friend. If something goes wrong with any of my appliances I always google the fault first and then if possible fix it myself. I have saved hundreds of pounds doing this. I will never call anyone out untill I have exhausted all other options. Also sometimes you have to work out if it would be better to cut your lossesand just buy a new one because the costs to put the old one right are so great it just isn't worth it

Insomnia11 · 13/04/2011 17:08

I think with white goods either you go for a cheapo one that will last you two years or if you can, get a more expensive one with a guarantee.

We bought a Hotpoint washing machine (not knowing they were shite as at one time they used to be good) and that went after two years but the Hotpoint fridge freezer we bought at the same time is still going strong ten years later.

Original poster
Ormirian · 13/04/2011 17:22

Oh yes, it's in the small print I don't doubt it. I just think that in those circs they should have been generous. 55 plus vat for approx 5 mins work with no travel expenses as he could walk from his own house.

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