To think a fecking washing machine should last longer than a year?

[WendyWasherWoman]

Washing machine has broken down due to the concrete counterweight snapping and breaking into pieces. It’s unfixable as it’s damaged the drum. It’s never been overloaded but has always been noisy when it spins.

It is 14 months old so out of one year warranty but surely it should last longer than that! Argos are saying ‘tough’ basically!

I’m so pissed at having to shell out for a new one when we’re already financially shafted due to CV. Really don’t want to use a laundrette at the moment so am currently stomping on washing in the bath which I can’t continue for long.

Is there anything I can do?

Family of 6 always doing washing, my machine is 9 years old by LG. I’d be very annoyed after such a short a time but. It’s out of warranty. Take extended warranty next time ,

Doesn’t EU law state your must have a 2 year guarantee?

Err... we're not in the EU.*

Our rights under EU law still apply until they’re expressly removed. Even when we leave the “transition period”.

Second, the law of the relevant time applies which is the purchase of the machine, 14 months ago.

2 year warranty remains.

Look up sale of goods act. I had an expensive washer dryer that died just out of the 2 year standard warranty - a Samsung one from Next.
I quoted sale of goods act to them - (needed to be fit for purpose, I didn't consider 2 years for a £600 washer dryer as reasonable) to be told that that didn't apply to them!!!
I demanded to speak to a manager and after some quibbling they admitted I was right, I got a full apology and a new washer dryer.
Don't let them fob you off!!

YANBU to expect your appliance to last more than 14 months but sadly it is far more difficult than it should be to enforce your statutory legal rights.

It is really not that difficult. 'Which' has some easy-to-follow guides.

In my experience, retailers (or more usually just the shop managers or call centre staff) try to stall and bullshit in order to get out of their obligations, but as soon as they realise that you know what your rights are, they start being more cooperative.

As others have also pointed out, if you paid with a credit card, you can also make a Sect. 75 claim. Not that the credit card companies are any better. The usual response is that you have to have exhausted all of the options with the retailer before they will accept the claim. This is incorrect - the credit card company is liable and you can make a claim directly against them. Which or MoneySavingExpert can help here as well.

But the Which? easy to follow guides and your post refer to the shops lying, bullshitting and trying to get out of their obligations, which is what they do - the retailer refers the customer to the manufacturer who refers back to the retailer.

Many people will give up at that point, especially if they need to replace an essential appliance immediately.

Don't you think that's them being 'difficult' when what they should actually be doing is saying 'we're very sorry, this has happened, we can do a repair within x days or send you a new machine in a similar timescale?

Second, the law of the relevant time applies which is the purchase of the machine, 14 months ago

That's good to know!

@BarbaraofSeville

I agree that it shouldn't be difficult, and that retailers deliberately make it difficult - my comment really was that the process itself isn't too difficult once you know what to do. But of course, there is the issue that in the meantime, you're left without a washing machine.

The best approach is to know your rights before you contact the retailer, so that when the manager begins to stall you can cut to the chase and make it clear that you know what your rights are and what their obligations are. Remember too to set timescales (difficult of course at the moment) - under normal circumstances you want an engineer or a response tomorrow, not in 14 days time.

@MrsJoshNavidi err don’t you understand the terms of Brexit, or are you just deliberately being obtuse?

Try going back to the manufacturer it sounds like it's been faulty for months. Not to rub it in but if you can afford the extended warranty buy it on your new one. Mine is 3.5 years old the drum went and they replaced it for a new machine today.

Only just under 300 . Cheek!

Just under £300. If you're buying a new machine, look at a Blomberg you can get one for under £400 and get a 3 year guarantee. They are solid. You need to buy them from your local Euronics centre, they are nationwide. Maybe can buy online but we always buy local as they bring it around.

I've also just had a quick google and currently there is a Samsung with a 5-year guarantee for under £400 on the Marks Electrical website.