Does anyone have one of those insurance policy things for your washing machine, with Domestic and General?

[saltire]

We have one with Domestic and General, and I know some people think they are a waste of money, but we have had engineers out to our machine a total of 8 times in the past 2 years, the call out charge alone would have been £75.
Anyway, it's £72 a year. I hjad to get the engineer out as the machine wasn't working, and he said it would cost £435 to repair, and I would hear from Domestic and General. I had to phone them because of the postal strike and they said

"We need to replace your machine, we need to get £75 from you to cover delivery and outstanding direct debits, and then we can arrange delivery of the replacement model"
They gave me the model number and make, and if I pay the £75, then they will only be paying £154, which is less than 75%, which is what they pay out on a machine which is over 5 years old
On the policy note it say that any machine over 5 years, adn under 6, they pay 75%, over 6 and under 7 they pay 50%, any older they pay 30% towards the cost of a new one.
But my machine is only 4 years old. I also don't understand what they mean about outstandind DDs as they are up to date.

Saltire - do you have proof that the machine is only 4 years old? If so fax it through to them. Also, ask them which DD's are outstanding, and fax copy of bank statement through showing that the payments have been made. Also, does it mention on the policy about having to pay for delivery of the replacement machine, I would not be happy about that?

If they do not accept the above then tell them you are going to speak to Consumer Direct and get their advice, sounds like they don't want to have to pay out any more than they have already.

For what it is worth my washing machine is over 13 years old and has cost me no more than £150 in repairs, so you have definitely been extremely unlucky.

Let us know how you get on.