Warranty Time for White Goods

fugglestick

My Hotpoint tumble drier has just packed up after 14 months. One parent and a 5 year old so its not exactly overworked.

Does it seem realistic to expect it to work for longer than that?

Anyone any ideas please?

Thanks

macman

Yes, but the manufacturer's warranty is what matters-how long is that on yours? If it's only 12m, you are out of luck.
You'd then have to claim under SOGA from the supplier instead, which would require you to prove a pre-existing fault. Where did you buy it? If it was JL, you have a two year retailer's warranty.
What's gone wrong with it?
A Hotpoint is a poor quality 'budget' brand, but should still last more than 14 months.

thenudeone

You would have to demonstrate that the item wasn't "of merchantable quality", bearing in mind the quality and price.

So you should expect more from a top of the range model costing many hundreds of pounds than from a "starter" tumble drier for £99.

I'd expect a tumble drier to last more than 14 months.

There are reports of retailers paying claims like this under pressure when faced with a persistent customer, but you would need to be quite persuasive.

alleycat`

I read this recently off the back of apple getting a "slapping" about trying to sell extended warranties.


So how does the EU rule change things?
The EU directive in question is 1999/44/EC.


Apparently the important bit is this:-


'A two-year guarantee applies for the sale of all consumer goods everywhere in the EU. In some countries, this may be more, and some manufacturers also choose to offer a longer warranty period.'
As with UK law, a seller is not bound by the guarantee 'if the (fault) has its origin in materials supplied by the consumer'. But the EU rule does not require the buyer to show the fault is inherent in the product and not down to their actions.
The EU rule also says buyers need to report a problem within two months of discovering it if they want to be covered under the rule.

How can I use this rule?
Reports of cases where shoppers have used the EU rule to get refunds suggest that even senior staff at stores may be unaware of it, so be prepared for some blank faces if you need to use it to argue your case. But eventually, after referring the complaint to legal teams, reports suggest the stores have coughed up.
Use this checklist to see if you could try and use the EU rule:
• The goods were purchased no longer than two years ago
• The store will not provide a refund or repair because you are returning the item after their return period has ended, usually one year
• You are reporting the fault within two months of discovering it
• The goods show no signs of damage through your actions or misuse.

I'm not sure how this really stands with regards to the SOGA and other things in the UK?

rustyboy21

alleycat` wrote: »

I read this recently off the back of apple getting a "slapping" about trying to sell extended warranties.


So how does the EU rule change things?
The EU directive in question is 1999/44/EC.


Apparently the important bit is this:-


'A two-year guarantee applies for the sale of all consumer goods everywhere in the EU. In some countries, this may be more, and some manufacturers also choose to offer a longer warranty period.'
As with UK law, a seller is not bound by the guarantee 'if the (fault) has its origin in materials supplied by the consumer'. But the EU rule does not require the buyer to show the fault is inherent in the product and not down to their actions.
The EU rule also says buyers need to report a problem within two months of discovering it if they want to be covered under the rule.

How can I use this rule?
Reports of cases where shoppers have used the EU rule to get refunds suggest that even senior staff at stores may be unaware of it, so be prepared for some blank faces if you need to use it to argue your case. But eventually, after referring the complaint to legal teams, reports suggest the stores have coughed up.
Use this checklist to see if you could try and use the EU rule:
• The goods were purchased no longer than two years ago
• The store will not provide a refund or repair because you are returning the item after their return period has ended, usually one year
• You are reporting the fault within two months of discovering it
• The goods show no signs of damage through your actions or misuse.

I'm not sure how this really stands with regards to the SOGA and other things in the UK?

If I am correct, I think that we didn't adopt this legislation, due to us already having the SOGA. The SOGA on the whole on most points, hgave a greater cover for the consumer, than the EU law did.

If I am wrong on this , I know someone will be along shortly to correct it. Therefore you cannot cherry pick between which law helps you better here.

As for #2 and being persistnat, if that involves screaming and shouting in the retailers demanding your rights, then you may find that you do not get any help at all.

Have you spoken to the retailer yet? Speak in a polite , but firm manner. Say that it has packed up, you would think that it would last more than 14 months, you have a 5 year old and it is causing you issues with school kit etc.

If you are polite and not aggressive, you should get some help. There are rules and systems in place in all retail, to help out. The retailer may get the manufacturer to do a calout as goodwill gesture. The manufacturer may do a callout with the chance of getting your callout payment back, if found to be an inherent fault ( which I have used quite a few times succesfully in my field of retail)

Don't get yourself wound up from the get go , thinking all legaleeze, when you most likely will not need it, if you keep your head screwed on the right way and use the systems in place to get it repaired.

Good luck