Problem - bought washing machine from friend

concerned43

I recently bought a washing machine from friend, got it home and does not work! I would like to complain to friend and ask for money towards repair or my money back, am I being unreasonable? the cost of the repairs would be £90. bought for £80.

scottishchick27

If she's a good friend I would tell her the truth, you took it home and it didn't work. If she's a good friend she'll be mortified and give you your money back. It would be different if you had used it for a few weeks then it broke though, then I would have advised you to pay to get it fixed or get rid of it and get a new one.

digitalphase

I guess it's not too helpful now you've already bought it, but for £40-50 extra you could have bought a brand new one.

I'd never buy a second hand washing machine *shudder*

Your friend should hopefully give you your money back, but who knows.

Any

concerned43 wrote: »

I recently bought a washing machine from friend, got it home and does not work! I would like to complain to friend and ask for money towards repair or my money back, am I being unreasonable? the cost of the repairs would be £90. bought for £80.

Call her, tell her and discuss it with her.
Start with "so I got the washing machine home and it doesn't work" and see what she says.

What are the circumstances? Was it taken from her the day after it was running? Was it in the garage not working for while? Could it have been damaged in transit? Who delivered it?

It all depends...

If your OH smashed it in the car in transit and that caused it, then you are being unreasonable.

If it was in garage for a while and her OH delivered it then it is just fair that she sorts it out..

It all depends...

morg_monster

This is clearly going to be next week's moral dilemma in the email...
If they are a good friend they should offer to give you your money back. But TBH if they knowingly sold you a broken washer they don't sound like much of a friend.
BUT if it genuinely broke really recently and they didn't know, then hopefully they would offer to pay for all or part of repairs.

honeypop

Are you being iunreasinable? It depends if it was already broken when you bought it, or whether something happened to it afterwards.

I sold my washing machine to a friend, it was working fine and they got it transported to their house, connected it up and it wouldn't work properly. It turns out that when used washing machines are transported, it can loosen the limescale inside causing a number of problems, and it is very common for a second hand washing machine that hasn't been cleaned out properly (as you may expect from a second hand appliance store to have done) to have problems when installed in the new house.

My friend did tell me that it wasn't working when she tried it, but seeing as it was working fine when I used it last and that the problem turned out to have happened while it was being moved, then she expected no money back from me.

I know the posters above are saying if it's a real friend then they'll offer money back etc but honestly the problem could be nothing to do with them and caused in transit or installation (if it wasn't kept upright, for example while being carried at an angle to move it), and therefore no money should be expected back.

Have you had the actual problem diagnosed and know for sure it was broken when you bought it? I assume as you know the repair cost then you have already done this. In the case it was already broken before you bought it (did you ask when they sold it to you?) then I would definitely mention it to the friend, but be sure what the problem with it is beforehand.

polgara

Did the washing machine have transit bolts? Where they used/are they still in? When our machine died we took my mother's machine as she was replacing hers anyway. Was working fine at hers, but had problems so needed to do a bit of repair work and it was ok (not great) for a few months until we could afford a brand new one. Re splitting repair bills...it all depends on what the repair is - belt or motor or something else. Some will be general wear and tear and you'd expect that on a second hand repair.

themull1

£80.00 is a lot for a second hand washing machine, especially from a friend. she should give you the money back, or you won't stay friends for long.!!

minimoneysaver

I agree with themull1. Why did you pay £80 for a second hand machine? Did you do any research on buying wachine machines or just jump in and buy it? I'm with the others, if the transit bolts weren't used to move it, then I don't think you have a leg to stand on.

newmum1

Hi I think I would say to your friend something along the lines of.. I got the washing machine home and it doesn't seem to be working, and then see what your friend says. Also I do agree with the other that £80 is rather pricey and usually most shops i.e tesco direct, currys have basic models for around £120 also if its not working I would nt bother getting it fixed as its prob not going to be worth it. With a new one depending on where you buy you may get 1 years guarantee.
Whatever you do dont let your friendship get ruined over a washing machine.

concerned43

Many thanks for all your advice. Just to update you - The machine belonged to my friend's brother who had it for less than two years and he was moving into a new flat that already had an integrated washing machine and therefore no longer needed the machine. The machine was delivered to my friends garage and then after a month transported to mine (by friend). I installed it and found that it did not work, was told it needed a new pump which will be £40 for part and would have to pay for the labour also.
I informed friend that the machine was not working, she said that "she was just the middleman and that she would mention it to her brother"! she called me yesterday for a chat I waited to see if she would mention the machine - she didn't-I then had to ask her what her brother was going to do about the machine and she said "nothing" and then went on to !!!!! about him.
Don't know what to do now, as far as I am concerned I bought the machine off my friend (she took the money) and delivered the machine and I think she should take responsibility. This has put a strain on our friendship as I cannot let the matter go and cannot afford to write the expence of fixing it off!