Can we get cheaper repairs on white goods?

lovethymini

Hiya,

Our Whirlpool tumble dryer is only 2 years old but it's broken, grrr!

Hubby and friend have taken it apart and told me it's the control panel - quote from Whirlpool is £123 for the part. I'm so cross about this, it's a £250 model and surely it should've lasted longer!?

Anyway - does anyone know of a cheaper way to sort this type of problem out? I've tried fleabay and I've tried my local appliance supplier, I'd hate to make more landfill just for the sake of a repair that isn't economically viable :sad:.

spankymonkey_2

i have just had this problem with my hotpoint washing machine... the bearings had gone and i knew i couldnt afford to buy a new machine or pay outright to have it fixed. so i purchased an extended guarantee through hotpoint from domestic and general, which meant i could pay £15 a month and i get the machine fixed and its covered for another year......

ormus

180 quid per annum to insure a washing machine!
are you mad?

you can buy a brand new machine for that money!

never ever take out an extended warranty on anything.
(CH boilers may possibly be an exception).

daveyjp

OP - contact trading standards. You are correct that a tumble dryer should last longer than 2 years, unless it's subject to very heavy use. The Sale of Goods Act may apply.

lovethymini

daveyjp wrote: »

OP - contact trading standards. You are correct that a tumble dryer should last longer than 2 years, unless it's subject to very heavy use. The Sale of Goods Act may apply.

Thanks Davey - hadn't thought of TS as I already spoke to Whirlpool about this and they said they couldn't do anything more for me because I didn't have the original receipt. I actually bought this as a reconditioned dryer through Ebay (seller has stopped trading now and I can't contact him), I'm guessing it's age because all the labels inside it are dated '07.

It hasn't had heavy use, mindful of the fact that they're expensive to run I generally only "finish" drying my washing off once it's come off the clothes airer and I've got a new load to hang up!

I think I'll ring trading standards now actually

to be continued....

lovethymini

Right - I've spoken to Consumer Direct.

It's not Whirlpool's responsibility, it's the trader I bought the item from in the first place.

I guess we've saved enough money over the years buying things from fleabay, we'll just have to take this one on the chin. I'd still rather this than paying £15 per month for an extended warranty :eek: - cancel it!!!

I could still do with knowing if there's a cheaper way to get parts though!

will-he-payitoff

Used these in the past and found them quite cheap
http://www.espares.co.uk/search/dishwashers/p/1083

spankymonkey_2

well i would rather pay £150 over 10 months to change the bearings as my machine has to have the whole drum replaced...and its being fitted by a competent tradesman as i know i couldn't do it myself. and also to replace my machine like for like would cost £270......

lovethymini

will-he-payitoff wrote: »

Used these in the past and found them quite cheap
http://www.espares.co.uk/search/dishwashers/p/1083

Thanks for that link, sadly they don't stock the control panel.

Looks like the heater element is a valuable part though, so I think the best thing is to break the dryer for spares!