Washing Machine Died - Repair/Replace under SoGA

supermonkey

Hi All,

My 4 year old washing machine has completely died.

The retailer states that taking the use I've had into account its intrinsic value is £0. I believe the SoGA implies a minimum 6 year life span, so taking that into account the intrinsic value should surely be 4/6 of the purchase price?!

The SoGA also states its up the consumer to prove the fault, so I had an indpendant applicance engineer diagnose the problem. I explained before coming that I'd need a report to show the retailor. I was given an invoice which states the applicance is dead & that it needs a new PCB. I'm not sure this would be sufficient evidence to provide to the retailer?

unholyangel

supermonkey wrote: »

Hi All,

My 4 year old washing machine has completely died.

The retailer states that taking the use I've had into account its intrinsic value is £0. I believe the SoGA implies a minimum 6 year life span, so taking that into account the intrinsic value should surely be 4/6 of the purchase price?!

The SoGA also states its up the consumer to prove the fault, so I had an indpendant applicance engineer diagnose the problem. I explained before coming that I'd need a report to show the retailor. I was given an invoice which states the applicance is dead & that it needs a new PCB. I'm not sure this would be sufficient evidence to provide to the retailer?

You're wrong I'm afraid. SoGA gives no minimum life span to anything.

The limitations act gives you a maximum of 6 years to take legal action against someone for breach of contract - but that does not mean that all goods should last that long.

For example a £5 kettle out of asda, I would say if it lasted a year, it had lasted a reasonable length of time.

And no, that report would not be enough. It only states that the item is faulty - not why it is faulty.

tomtontom

Four years does not seem unreasonable for a PCB lifespan, and is not necessarily indicative of an inherent fault. Did the engineer give a quote for a replacement part? It probably won't be much less than a new machine.

neilmcl

unholyangel wrote: »

And no, that report would not be enough. It only states that the item is faulty - not why it is faulty.

I disagree, it says the reason for the fault is the PCB. Under normal circumstances a PCB shouldn't fail within this period unless it is inherently faulty, and within the balance of probabilities unlikely to be caused by the the end user.

unholyangel

neilmcl wrote: »

I disagree, it says the reason for the fault is the PCB. Under normal circumstances a PCB shouldn't fail within this period unless it is inherently faulty, and within the balance of probabilities unlikely to be caused by the the end user.

Or alternatively it could have failed because OP has been doing 2 loads of washing a day/running a washing & ironing service - in other words the failure being down to normal wear & tear.

Not saying that OP has actually been doing that in this case but theres certainly no certainty that the fault with the pcb is inherent.

neilmcl

unholyangel wrote: »

Or alternatively it could have failed because OP has been doing 2 loads of washing a day/running a washing & ironing service - in other words the failure being down to normal wear & tear.

Not saying that OP has actually been doing that in this case but theres certainly no certainty that the fault with the pcb is inherent.

I never said there was. I specifically said "under normal circumstances" and on the balance of probabilities that this would point to an inherent failure, and I think any retailer would accept this report on face value.

unholyangel

neilmcl wrote: »

I never said there was. I specifically said "under normal circumstances" and on the balance of probabilities that this would point to an inherent failure, and I think any retailer would accept this report on face value.

A printed circuit board can fail for several reasons.

For example http://www.appliancesparesandparts.co.uk/printed_circuit_board_faults.html says:

Most Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Tumble Dryers, now contain Printed Circuit Boards (PCB's). Electrical surges, vibration, leaks, condensation, blocked or faulty pumps, worn door interlocks, etc, can all blow or damage a printed circuit board.

We don't supply p.c.b.'s because they are expensive, they are not usually covered by a warranty, & pcb faults are not always straight forward to diagnose.

lincroft1710

Oh for the days of the Hoover Twin Tub!

CoolHotCold

neilmcl wrote: »

I disagree, it says the reason for the fault is the PCB. Under normal circumstances a PCB shouldn't fail within this period unless it is inherently faulty, and within the balance of probabilities unlikely to be caused by the the end user.

You don't really have all the necessary information to make that decision.

It might be a £500 Melie or a £130 White Knight, or a Ex-Display or Exchanged unit, etc.

If I paid £130 for a Washing Machine and it lasted 4 years without problems, I'd be pretty happy with it.

Leo2020

CoolHotCold wrote: »

You don't really have all the necessary information to make that decision.

It might be a £500 Melie or a £130 White Knight, or a Ex-Display or Exchanged unit, etc.

If I paid £130 for a Washing Machine and it lasted 4 years without problems, I'd be pretty happy with it.

When I was looking for a washing machine just last weekend all the Mieles were over £500. But the your point still stands about price, if it was a cheapo washing machine that had lasted 4 years I don't think that is unreasonable.

I'm only replacing my washer dryer after about 8/9 years and it was about £500.

agrinnall

I remember a Which report from a few years ago that rated the reliability of white goods, and washing machines had by quite a long way the shortest lifespan. I reckon 4 years for a budget machine is within the acceptable range.