broken washing machine: what are my rights?

magick_2

My £500 JL washer/dryer has broken down two months after the 3 year warranty expired. I have yet to ring JL but wanted to ask others opinions about my rights. This is the second time it has broken down since purchase. Should I be asking JL to repair my machine for free? I feel that 3 years isn't long enough for a washing machine to last. More like 7-10 years. Does anyone have an opinion or could point me to a thread where this kind of thing is discussed? Thanks.

cyberbob

your out of any legal period. The only argument you may have if it wasn't fit for purpose. My last Washing machine lasted 5 years it all depends on usage I really don't think you'll have much of a case.

ALIBOBSY

Any warrantee/guarantee is completely separate to your rights under the sale of good act.
The sales of goods act just specifys that a product should last a "reasonable" length of time.
I have seen on other forums people taking these arguments to the small claims court and there the judge (as the law states) considers how long the product should have reasonable lasted. This usually revolves around the type of product and the costs.
Cyberbob seems to be confusing different parts of the act. There is a separate section which refers to actual faults in the product as opposed to the actual lifespan and this is limited to 6 and 12 months.

Definately worth a go at pursueing although it depends how far you are prepared to go (and how long you will wait without a WM) in particular the fact that it has broken down before could be relevant. Is this the same fault? If it is you could argue that the issue started before the warrantee expired and they didn't sort it.
We had a problem with ours a few months ago but managed to sort it ourselves, what is the problem? Worth posting as someone may be able to advise (espcially if no luck with JL).

Good luck

ali x

Hintza

cyberbob wrote: »

your out of any legal period. The only argument you may have if it wasn't fit for purpose. My last Washing machine lasted 5 years it all depends on usage I really don't think you'll have much of a case.

+1........... Get an engineer round. Although I have never do done it I was always advised extended warranties were not worth the money BUT if you were that way inclined any machne that uses water might be worh considerng one for.

ALIBOBSY

BTW they could legally argue that you have had 3 years of use out of the product. If a judge decided that it should last say 5 years and you have had 3, you would only get back 2 years worth of the purchase price ie say £200 in this case.

ali x

magick_2

The current fault is different from the previous one so I can't argue that the problem started before the warranty expired. And I don't fancy living without a washing machine for two or three months while I argue the case with JL.

But I'm fed up with all the kitchen appliances I buy developing faults within two or three years of purchase. Cooker, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and now washer/dryer have all lasted less than three years without a major fault. Cooker and fridge/freezer still going but with annoying faults that recurred after the warranty period expired.

roger196

Ring trading standards who can advise you what your local small claims court think is a satisfactory SOGA life for a washing machine.

missprice

magick wrote: »

I feel that 3 years isn't long enough for a washing machine to last. More like 7-10 years. .

that surely depends on useage
my nearly mother has had her washer for something like 25 years and it still works (she does a wash a week)

on the other hand i feel darn lucky if a washer lasts more than a year
and yes i have had "good" washers and bad

anyway can ya post what the problem is then we can see if we can help

magick_2

The problem is simply that it has stopped working. I think the drum has somehow come off its 'hinges' as all the lights come on and the programme starts but the drum won't turn.

Our washing machine gets used 6-8 times a week. The dryer part 2-3 times a week. Surely it's not too much to expect a £500 machine to run that many times a week and last 7 years without a fault. Or am I being naive?

neilmcl

magick wrote: »

The problem is simply that it has stopped working. I think the drum has somehow come off its 'hinges' as all the lights come on and the programme starts but the drum won't turn.

Our washing machine gets used 6-8 times a week. The dryer part 2-3 times a week. Surely it's not too much to expect a £500 machine to run that many times a week and last 7 years without a fault. Or am I being naive?

As the previous poster metioned, usage will play an important factor when determining what is a reasonable time. I would suspect someone using the machine as much as you would be classed as above average, even possibly excessive. With your information I think you would have a fight on your hands. But JL are a good company so it will be worth seeing what they say.

deanos

Works out at £0.40p per wash 8x52x3=1248 washes / £500 = £0.40p

Say the average user washes 2 times a week and the machine cost £500 then the cost would be £1.60p per wash, even if it cost £300 then thats £0.96p per wash

Seems like you have got you use out of it IMO, but im no expert and the above is probably useless information :rotfl: