18 month old BEKO washing machine needs repairs. My rights??

Carrie_B_2

I bought a BEKO washing machine from Appliances Online in mid May 2010. It has started making an awful noise when spinning, (sounds like a helicopter taking off in my kitchen!), even on low spin speeds and I have followed all troubleshootng advice in the manual to no avail. Do I have any rights to ask BEKO for a free call out when the guarantee was for only 12 months? If it turns out to be a fault with the machine, and not through anything I have caused, surely 18 months does not fulfill the 'fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time' bit of the consumer goods act.

G51shopaholic

When I read your post it reminded me of our Beko washing machine, accept we've had ours for over 7 yrs.

We took the bottom off and cleaned out the pump and found hairbands & around 60p in small change!

You are right in what you say about the "fit for purpose" but if its a fault caused by you, you'll get charged. Best to strip out
the drain etc and make sure there's nothing in there.

All our large electrical appliances are Beko (6ft fridge, matching 6ft freezer, dishwasher, washing machine & tumble dryer). our fridge & freezer are over 10yrs old.

Carrie_B_2

I've already pulled off the panel at the bottom front of the machine and cleaned out the filter. Did find half a broken lolly stick but removing that didn't sort the problem.

Browntoa

mum had one where the weld for the drum bracket failed after about the same length of time

bb999

No, you don't have any right of a free call out from Beko. Moreover, you have no right to any recourse from Beko.

Any rights that you have will come from Appliances Online, and also your credit card company if you paid by credit (not debit) card.
What you need to do is prove that the fault is inherrent in the machine i.e. has been there since you bought it. This does not mean that the fault had to be visible, or even present - it could simply mean that substandard parts (bearings for example) have been use.

What I suggest you do:
1) Contact Appliances Online and ask them if they are willing to have the machine repaired. They will probably say no, but if they agree then all is well.

2)Assuming Appliances Online refuse to sanction a repair, you will need to pay for an independent engineer (local repair company, etc.) to examine the machine and determine the fault. If they determine that the fault is not something you have caused, and is not general wear and tear (unlikely after such a short time) then you will need a written report from them stating the fault and likely cause. You will need to explain this to them when you arrange for them to come out, because some repairers are reluctant to put their name to such reports. You will have to pay for this report.

3) If the engineer confirms that the fault is as above, write a letter to Appliances Online refering to the Sale of Goods Act. Letter templates are available from Direct Gov website here
You need to tell them what you expect - refund, repair, replacement. Repair would be the most likely. Also ask for the cost of the enginners report paying, along with any other reasonable expences you have incurred, such as laundrette costs.

4) If you paid by credit card, write to the CC company under section 75 of the consumer credit act. The template for this is also on the Directgov website. Enclose copies of everything sent to Appliances Online.

Await the replies. Once received, if not positive, come back for further advise.

Keal1969

13 months ago I bought a Hotpoint washing machine from Currys and it stopped working. We called Hotpoint as instructed in the accompanying handbook. They gave me two options. One - they could send an engineer out to fix it for a fixed cost of £104.00 which would fix the problem, but no further cover would be given. Two - Buy the insurance for £12 mth which would cover the repair and any other faults for the year. We opted for the insurance and the repair was made. The fault was due to a faulty component and not due to misuse. At the time I felt the insurance was the best route as we were worried that any other fault would cost us £104 call out fee if the machine faulted again, and again....etc.
Can you tell me if I would have been protected in this situation by the sale of goods act, as the goods clearly were not fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time. If so would I be able to cancel the manufacturers insurance with refund?
Thank you.

bris

Follow the same advice as bb999 has already posted above. That means doing it through the retailer.

fred7777

Keal1969 wrote: »

We opted for the insurance and the repair was made. The fault was due to a faulty component and not due to misuse. At the time I felt the insurance was the best route as we were worried that any other fault would cost us £104 call out fee if the machine faulted again, and again....etc.
Can you tell me if I would have been protected in this situation by the sale of goods act, as the goods clearly were not fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time. If so would I be able to cancel the manufacturers insurance with refund?
Thank you.

The sale of goods act would have given you some "protection" and you may have been able to get the unit repaired at no cost to you.

Unfortunately they would probably argue now that the insurance is separate service which you have received and continue to receive regardless of the fault so they are entitled to charge for it and keep any payments for this service.