Samsung American style fridge/freezer failed after 2 years

mcrocker192

Hi

My Samsung American style fridge/freezer has failed 1 week after it's 2 year warranty expired with the freezer starting to defrost. Samsung has sent out an engineer as a goodwill gesture who told me it is leaking gas and is beyond repair as he cannot locate the source of the leak. The unit has undergone a number of repairs (water dispenser not operating - 4 visits later to fix). I would expect more than 2 years from a £1700 appliance (I have a 25 year old fridge/freezer still operating in the cellar).

Where do I stand from a replacement point of view? Since it was bought in April 2015, it would be subject to the Sales of Good Act which allows for 6 years - does this give me replacement unit?

jb66

I would argue that a fridge freezer should last 6 years and as its only lasted 2 I would expect 66% of the value back.

anmarj

after six months it would be up to you prove that the fault is an inhertant fault by the way of a independent report which states it is an inheritant fault, and your fight is with the company that sold you the unit and not the manfacturer unless you bought direct from them. If the report finds in your favour then, they will cover the cost, but you have to pay for it in the first instance. If they accept there is a inherant fault, it is the vendor's choice to either replace, partial refund or repair.

marliepanda

jb66 wrote: »

I would argue that a fridge freezer should last 6 years and as its only lasted 2 I would expect 66% of the value back.

There is no rule that a fridge should last 6 years.

Linear depreciation is also not a thing.

You need a independent report proving that the unit was bound to fail from the start due to an inherent fault. The retailer you got it from (possibly Samsung, or possibly currys for example) then, if a fault is proved inherent, can repair it for free, replace it, or refund you a proportionate refund (likely to NOT be 66%)

jobbingmusician

http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2013/10/22/how-long-do-you-have-to-take-faulty-goods-back/

I would be arguing that any leak which cannot be discovered by the engineer is obviously a slow leak which was there well inside the guarantee period, as a start. I may be back later with more advice when the household guru, currently resting, is awake!

wealdroam

jobbingmusician wrote: »

http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2013/10/22/how-long-do-you-have-to-take-faulty-goods-back/

I would be arguing that any leak which cannot be discovered by the engineer is obviously a slow leak which was there well inside the guarantee period, as a start. I may be back later with more advice when the household guru, currently resting, is awake!

Jobbingmusician, that blog is hopelessly out of date.

Unfortunately that article, produced in Oct 2013, hasn't been updated to keep pace with the changing legislation.

In particular, citing The Distance Selling Regulations and The Sale of Goods Act for consumer transactions is no longer appropriate.

For guidance of this sort, it is probably better for the OP to refer to MSE's Consumer Rights guide which has been updated as the laws have changed.

naedanger

mcrocker192 wrote: »

Hi

My Samsung American style fridge/freezer has failed 1 week after it's 2 year warranty expired with the freezer starting to defrost. Samsung has sent out an engineer as a goodwill gesture who told me it is leaking gas and is beyond repair as he cannot locate the source of the leak. The unit has undergone a number of repairs (water dispenser not operating - 4 visits later to fix). I would expect more than 2 years from a £1700 appliance (I have a 25 year old fridge/freezer still operating in the cellar).

Where do I stand from a replacement point of view? Since it was bought in April 2015, it would be subject to the Sales of Good Act which allows for 6 years - does this give me replacement unit?

Assuming you can prove that the fault, more likely than not, was not caused by misuse or neglect then you should be offered a repair, replacement or partial refund.

I would be arguing a £1700 fridge/freezer should last a lot more than 6 years.

So I would suggest you argue such an expensive appliance should last at least 15 years, and that a suitable refund is 13/15 * £1700 = £1,473. I am not saying you would get this amount, but you should be negotiating starting from a high figure.