My washing machine's bearings have gone, its 17 months old, where do I stand?

[SparklyGothKat]

I am so pissed off, as its only 17 months old. I brought a Hotpoint thinking it would last longer than the 3 years my last one lasted for!!

I stupidly didn't extend the quaratte (sp?) but surely a £400 machine should last longer than 17 months?? Can I quote anything tomorrow when I phone them??

My dad's cataloge. I thought there was some thing that said things have to last a certain length of time or it is unfit for purpose, am I right?

I do get free parts replacements for 5 years, but will have to pay for labour, and my dad thinks they will stretch it out for 2 hours, and thats £150!!!

if you were in north I would send DH to do the labour for you

I am not sure where you stand, but can you get local to fit bearings (it really isn't that big a job) with an agreed price for the fitting?

aww thanks but am in the south!!

I am really pissed off, just did a search on my last thread about my last washing machine and that one was 2 years old!! Washing Machines don't like me!!!

Sale of Goods Act

I spoke to consumer bureau (consumer arm of trading standards) who said to me that white goods have an approx expected reasonable use time of around 3 years.

You might not be able to get all money back but you will be entitled to some cost towards another one/repair costs for this one.

Give the consumer bureau a call too, they are quite helpful, I have found.

ok so do I go back to Great Universal or should my dad? (as its his account) I just want it repaired.

When the bearings went on my machine(20+years old)I asked about a repair and was told by an independant repair man that it is not worth repairing when bearings have gone as the action(vibration, stresses etc)of that breakdown makes other things weak and will likely break down with other things quite quickly. I loved that machine and they don't make 'em like that anymore

solo - I think he may have been talking bs - older machines (10-15+) are worth keeping hold of as they really don't make 'em like that any more

No, I do trust what he said as he had repaired my friends washing machine several times and was always up front. I'm quite sure he was being truthful about it.

Contact the catalogue stating Sale of goods Act etc and they should arrange a replacement machine for you. Don't give up until you have a new one from them!

I ended up contacting the cataloge, they wanted a report saying it was a fault. Phone hotpoint and for £150 spread over 10 months, would cover the repair and give me 1 years warranty. I did that because I need my machine fixed.

When I complained about my ever so faulty Hoover machine they arranged for the engineer to come out and assess the fault and make a report, for which I wasn't charged. TBH I wouldn't be willing to pay anything for a machine that was faulty after such a short period of time.

I know, but TBH, I couldn't be dealing with it and I need my machine fixed and I can't afford a new one atm. I did quote the 'sale act' and got nowhere..

Well actually, if I were you I would follow it up with a letter complaining and see if they will waive the fee for you. Try this template letter

It has got to be worth a try. It seems so unfair that you have to pay again for an item that should last longer.

I will be making a complaint to Hotpoint. I am that I have to pay out again but I need my washing machine.