Reasonable Length of Time - Dishwasher Repair

Inflatable_Armadillo

Hi Everyone

Hopefully someone can help me.

I am in dispute with Indesit over the cost of a repair on my dishwasher. The dishwasher was first installed on the 5/9/05 and had to be repaired 9/9/2008. I used the Indesit repair service which charges you a flat fee of £105 for a repair. The engineer came out and fitted a new Timer Module and it started to work fine again. I did give Indesit a little bit of a hard time at the time of this repair about whether three years was a reasonable length of time but decided that it was not worth the argument given it was three years since it was installed.

Now, just a few days ago the dishwasher packs in again! It seems to be a similar problem to before and I am not happy at having to pay another £105 to get an engineer out. I tell Indesit this but they have this flat rate system and I can take it or leave it. I do think about just saying 'sod-it' and buying another dishwasher but this close to Christmas and thinking that it might be the same problem again decided to go with a repair, and hoping that if it was the same problem that Indesit would be understanding!

Anyway, you guessed it, exactly the same problem and engineer replaces exactly the same small circuit board they call the 'Timer' as 14 months previous. So I phone Idesit and say that I do not consider 14 months to be a reasonable length of time for what is essentially a small electronic circuit board to once again have to be replaced. I expect them to make me some sort of offer, but nothing! They say the part is only guaranteed for 90 days and can go wrong at any time so as far as they are concerned I have to pay. I then ask why they would expect what is an electronic part to go wrong at any time... well they just can, they said. This is even more annoying and I hit them with quality and fitness for purposes and do they consider that 14 months for what is an electronic and not a mechanical part to last. I get them to admit that, yes, they think it is reasonable and they are supposedly going to write this down for me in an e-mail (which I am waiting for). I then ask them to send me the part back (I let the engineer take it and should have asked to keep it in the first place) and they refuse and say that they will not send the engineer back with the part or post it back to me. I am ask them why not and they just say they won't.

So it would seem that my next move is to write back and continue the dispute. Now I am fairly clear on the law and that after 6 months, I have the burden of proof in terms of quality/fitness for purpose, however they have refused to send the part firstly, so is that to my advantage?

The real question is about other peoples possible precedent with dishwasher repairs and length of time they have lasted? Does have anyone have any examples or guidance either personal or through any court rulings at what as has been considered to be a 'reasonable length of time' for replacement electronic part to last in a dishwasher or washing machine?

Thanks for your help and advice.

neilmcl

I'd think you'd be lucky to get anywhere with this. Regardless of when the dishwasher was repaired last, it is still over 4 years old.

whitegoods_engineer

Simple solution! Buy a new timer and fit it yourself. It is just a few connections with a built-in ntc (thermostat), and you won't have to pay such a lot of money.

These timers fail such a lot. I fit them every few weeks! To fit them simply needs a few screws removing to access the timer (a small circuit board with a long wire attached) and simply plugging in the new board after unplugging the old one.

You must ensure you fit the NTC (the little white bit on the end of the wire coming off the timer) into the shoe on the door, next to the detergent dispenser. screw it all back together and it will be fine!

Obviously the appliance must be disconnected from the mains during the change over process.

It is a simple DIY repair which is simply a reversal of the removal process. Just a few connectors to plug in!