Looking for some advice re: washing machine

Need2Know_2

Hi

Hoping one of you lovely people will be able to help us out here.
We moved into a property back in october and have been plaugued with problems ever since. The latest one being a broken washing machine which we have been without for 3 weeks now. Having two small children ( 1 disabled) and no other family/ friends or help it has been nigh on impossible for me to get any washing done and lets just say its a nightmare. The children and I are poorly and so for the last week have been unable to go out at all.

We jut want to know if we are being unreasonable expecting the LL to have fixed this problem within this time? The washing machine is under warranty and the company who are fixing it are absolutley useless, which is fair enough, we understand thats not the LL fault. But surely he should have stepped in by now and done something else? or is that unreasonable for us to except?

We are paying ( alot ) of rent for a house that should be in full working order and the time and money this has cost us we feel justified in reclaiming it?

Could you tell us if we have any rights?

Thankyou.

Debt_Free_Chick

Can you tell us what's happened so far? An engineer has been out, presumably?

Need2Know_2

Sorry , yes

A week after being notified and engineer came out, ordered a part and that took a futher 9 days to arrive. The engineer then arrived and said it was the wrong part!!!! and went awaay saying they were not giving a time when they would be back......

Upon speaking to the LL he just shrugged it off.

clutton_2

sorry but this is what happens all the time in life - stuff gets ordered and the wrong part arrives - they cannot give a time when they will be back until they know when the new part will arrive can they ?

Need2Know_2

Hi

Yes I know this happens, but what I was hoping for some advice about where we stand with regards to being out of pocket for washing whilst actually paying a premium for something that is not working?

tbs624

Write to the LL, confirming the date on which the machine first stopped working, acknowledge the engineers visit and say that you would like a firm date by which the machine will be repaired. Three weeks to get a washing machine repaired is on the outside edge of "reasonable". Most standard washing machine parts can be ordered online and delivered within 48 hours max. He should at least cover the cost of a taxi to the nearest launderette plus the costs of the use of the machines there if he can't get an early resolve. Is there a local service wash firm who would collect?

The LL is legally obliged to keep electrical items that he supplied in good working order so always notify repairs issues in writing & keep a copy. Follow up any visits or phone calls with a letter confirming your understanding of what has been agreed.

Debt_Free_Chick

Need2Know wrote: »

Hi

Yes I know this happens, but what I was hoping for some advice about where we stand with regards to being out of pocket for washing whilst actually paying a premium for something that is not working?

Think about what you would/could do if this were your machine - then you can't expect the LL to do any more than you could do yourself.

However, does the LL know what's happened so far? You need to keep him informed - he can't act if he doesn't know the situation. Be friendly for now - you need only start talking about "your rights" if the LL is not interested in helping to get the situation resolved.

HTH

Robert_Sterling_3

Need2Know wrote: »

The latest one being a broken washing machine which we have been without for 3 weeks now.
We just want to know if we are being unreasonable expecting the LL to have fixed this problem within this time?

You are not being unreasonable

Need2Know_2

Thank you all, The LL has been informed every step of the way and is the point of contact for the warranty cover people. It has cost alot of time and money washing for a family of four over this period of time. It has been a real pain in the !!!!. My partner even said he would buy the part and fit in himself to which the LL objected!

zoony67

Presumably your partner does not have the expertise to effect the repair on this machine and could cause personal injury to himself or someone else ! if the part was fitted incorrectly it could present a risk and I am sure that the Landlord would rightly object to this course of action. I appreciate that you are desperate to get the appliance fixed but this is not the best course of action I would suggest.

You have not stated the make of the machine but I will advise you accordingly as I am a skilled Domestic Appliance Engineer and run my own service and repair company. The Landlords choosen repair agent should be able to source 90 % of parts from their suppliers within 48 hours. I cannot comment on the particular company that is handling this repair but it is possible that either they are dealing with the wrong suppliers, have ordered the part and then realised that this part is not the part that is responsible for the fault on your machine, ( Once the Engineer looked at the part if he is competent he should have known that the part was incorrect ) he would not then have needed to come back and then only realised it was wrong ?
The other scenario is that the part is a non stock item by the supplier and is deemed as a special order. Special order parts can depend on manufacturer and thier location and it is NOT uncommon for such spares to take up to 12 weeks to arrive.
Some manufacturers ship at 12 week intervals from other parts of the world i.e they wait until they have a large order before shipping. Unfortunately it would cost too much to send a part on its own and niether the manufacture or the supplier are geared to do this.

My suggestion is to contact the repair company and ask if their supplier can raise a due date on the part as any supplier will be able to contact the manufacturer by email, phone or fax and obtain such information. Failing that if the appliance cannot be repaired in a reasonable time period then the Landlord may want to replace the appliance or supply a loan machine. Sorry to hear of your trouble, Good Luck

confused31_2

i do know if it is the same cover as what i had with my washing machine from comet, you have the right to a new one if it is not fixed within 6 weeks, form the time they have been contacted.

that is mastercares cover if they dont fix it within 6 weeks they will replace it with a new one, they messed us around and we managed to get a new one.

Check whether the warranty is through MASTERCARE if so leave it 6 weeks then get a new one.