Faulty Repair

ronanmagee

Situation: Bought an iron a couple of years back, needed to get the sole plate replace. Purchased a new sole plate from manufacturers website.

Repair: Obtained 2 verbal quotes from local electrical repair shops. When with the one closest who told me as I had the part then it would be no problem for them to do it.

Outcome: Collected the iron and the sole plate was replaced and they pointed out some minor cosmetic damage which I was told did not affect the repair. Got iron home only to find it is not working as before i.e it is no where near as hot and the automatic steam function no longer works.

Resolution: Contacted the repair shop to ask what they will do only to be told these repairs are tricky and not really worth it! Given some of the delicate components within the iron which are easily damaged. They offered to sell me another iron with a little discount on it.

I was never made aware of the risks associated with this type of repair when I obtained the verbal quote.

What are my rights with regards this repair?

ronanmagee

They're not offering a refund, rather stating, the cost also covered 'the bench fee' for looking at it. Needless to say, wasn't told any of this at the time of being provided the quote.

Agricolae

Sounds like they've broken it and admitted it.

Hard to see what the remedy should be. Either them fixing it properly this time, or maybe a refund for the services, or a replacement iron if it's completely broken.

ronanmagee

Called around, sticking to their story that they only were requested to change one part, which they did, and it's working (even if the rest of the bloody iron ain't).

I do see their point of view, but I don't expect to leave something in to fixed and for it to be returned in a worse off state.

I'm also being told that the fixing fee that was quoted was what they call a 'bench fee' which is payabale regardless of the outcome, fixed or not, and is not related to the cost of my repair. Again, never told this before I agreed for the work to be done.

Is there anything about this covered under consumer protection legislation that I could quote to them?