Faulty white goods - retailer is demanding I get independent expert report

ChirpyCheapCheap

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Another vote for getting that independent report.  It's the only way you'll get an action from the retailer or your card company and even then, it will probably end up being a partial refund.  Half price would be my best guess as well.  

Just asking... can I just select a qualified repairer from Checkatrade and hope there won't be a bunfight over their credentials when their report gets presented to the retailer?  Sorry, I've never done this before!

ChirpyCheapCheap

Sandtree said:

Credit card company is even more likely to want reports, quotes etc as unlike large electrical retailers they dont have relationships with manufacturers/distributors etc or their own repair folk.

They are entitled to require a report and assuming it is faulty they get the choice of repair, replace or refund but be aware that the refund factors in the use you’ve had from the machine to date. The law doesnt say how this should be calculated but in my two recent experiences with two different retailers they did it as 1/6th lost per year and so at 40 months old it’d be worth half what you paid for it using this methodology. The cost of the report would be added on top.

The question is, if its a no brand machine and you may get half what you paid for it back is it worth the fight?

I like the way you've set out the financial analysis with the depreciation assessment 

born_again

ChirpyCheapCheap said:

Just asking... can I just select a qualified repairer from Checkatrade and hope there won't be a bunfight over their credentials when their report gets presented to the retailer?  Sorry, I've never done this before!

Ask round local FB group or neighbours who they can recommend. May find one that can repair for less if cash is that tight.

Can get integrated washer dryer for just over £300

photome

ChirpyCheapCheap said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Another vote for getting that independent report.  It's the only way you'll get an action from the retailer or your card company and even then, it will probably end up being a partial refund.  Half price would be my best guess as well.  

Just asking... can I just select a qualified repairer from Checkatrade and hope there won't be a bunfight over their credentials when their report gets presented to the retailer?  Sorry, I've never done this before!

The report would have to show an inherent fault which is unlikely given it worked for years. IMO it would be a waste of money and would possibly be cheaper to just get it repaired 

theonlywayisup

If you go the report route, you will have to pay for that report.  If the machine is deemed inherently faulty your Consumer Rights allow for that cost to be bourn by the seller.  

Do you have the money for the report?  Are you able to have that money tied up for a period of time along with having no working washing machine?  If the report doesn't favour the buyer, are you able to bear the cost and write it off?  These are questions you need to ask yourself as you have to also think practically when opting which course to take.  It isn't always about the outcome, sometimes the journey there isn't worthwhile. 

ChirpyCheapCheap

photome said:

ChirpyCheapCheap said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Another vote for getting that independent report.  It's the only way you'll get an action from the retailer or your card company and even then, it will probably end up being a partial refund.  Half price would be my best guess as well.  

Just asking... can I just select a qualified repairer from Checkatrade and hope there won't be a bunfight over their credentials when their report gets presented to the retailer?  Sorry, I've never done this before!

The report would have to show an inherent fault which is unlikely given it worked for years. IMO it would be a waste of money and would possibly be cheaper to just get it repaired 

I guess I'm just having trouble with the fact that a small household using it for effectively less than 2 years, should not expect more from the product.  I mean if it were a 5 person house with a daily wash & dry over 3.5 years, I think, sure we got some value out of that.  But it just doesn't feel normal or reasonable for ours to go !!!!!! with what we do with it.  Maybe "normal" and "reasonable" shouldn't feature in my thinking and I should just accept I either bought a dud brand or I've just been unlucky.  But because I'm here asking these questions, that acceptance hasn't set in yet

Flight3287462

An item that is permanently wet with little use, I'm not surprised that there are problems through lack of use.
OP you seem to think you are going to get a new machine if you are lucky you might get £150, so might I suggest you get the engineer round to have a look and repair if possible.

ChirpyCheapCheap

theonlywayisup said:

If you go the report route, you will have to pay for that report.  If the machine is deemed inherently faulty your Consumer Rights allow for that cost to be bourn by the seller.  

Do you have the money for the report?  Are you able to have that money tied up for a period of time along with having no working washing machine?  If the report doesn't favour the buyer, are you able to bear the cost and write it off?  These are questions you need to ask yourself as you have to also think practically when opting which course to take.  It isn't always about the outcome, sometimes the journey there isn't worthwhile. 

My feeling right now is that with such light use over a limited time, it can't be anything other than an inherent fault.  Maybe it will be hard to prove perfectly, but I'm hoping I can use whatever a report says, to influence the reluctant retailer.  "Good luck with that" I can hear MSE say   But I'm really struggling to accept that this fault is normal.  I was raised thrifty and with a sense of fairness but maybe I shou;d just let this go

ChirpyCheapCheap

Hunyani_Flight_825 said:

An item that is permanently wet with little use, I'm not surprised that there are problems through lack of use.
OP you seem to think you are going to get a new machine if you are lucky you might get £150, so might I suggest you get the engineer round to have a look and repair if possible.

"OP you seem to think you are going to get a new machine"

No I don't think that.  That's an unfair characterisation of my expectation.  I simply expect reasonable quality

ChirpyCheapCheap

born_again said:

ChirpyCheapCheap said:

Just asking... can I just select a qualified repairer from Checkatrade and hope there won't be a bunfight over their credentials when their report gets presented to the retailer?  Sorry, I've never done this before!

Ask round local FB group or neighbours who they can recommend. May find one that can repair for less if cash is that tight.

Can get integrated washer dryer for just over £300

Oooh!  Integrated W/D and with installation plus removal of the old one?  May I ask where these are?