Zenith engineer visit - possible fee

ripplyuk

I got this tumble dryer a few months ago but I haven’t used it much until recently. There is a smell of smoke when it is running but not every time. I wasn’t sure if maybe this was some type of factory chemicals being burnt off, since it’s so new, so I contacted Zenith to ask. They didn’t answer that question but a month later, they replied saying they have booked an engineer visit for next week. They warned me that if no fault is found, or it’s not an obvious manufacturing fault, then I will be liable for the full fee for this visit. 

I know they are likely to use the same local company I had last time for my washing machine fault. The engineer’s t-shirt had a number of brands on it, including Beko, Zenith (which is basically Beko), Zanussi, Hotpoint and Indesit. I was not happy at all with that inspection as all he did was run the machine for a few minutes and then say there’s no fault with it. 

This is a cheap tumble dryer so it’s not worth paying an engineer’s visit. I feel like unless it goes on fire, I cannot prove this fault exists. Are there any other options? 

born_again

Are you cleaning all the fluff out of the filter & round the drum after each use? As it is very easy for the fluff to get hot and smell like burning.

ripplyuk

@born_again Yes, I’m very careful about cleaning any fluff. But the smoke smell happened from new so I don’t think fluff is the cause. 

ripplyuk

I’m also wondering if they are allowed to charge me for this visit when I did not request it. I only wrote to Zenith asking if they knew what could be causing the smoke smell and if it would stop once I’ve used the machine more. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Who did you buy from?

ripplyuk

I bought it from a local Euronics shop. It was actually a replacement. I bought a Beko one first but there must have been a fault with the condenser as it filled the room with steam. They swapped it for this Zenith one. 

deanos

ripplyuk said:

I’m also wondering if they are allowed to charge me for this visit when I did not request it. I only wrote to Zenith asking if they knew what could be causing the smoke smell and if it would stop once I’ve used the machine more. 

cancel the appointment then ?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

ripplyuk said:

I bought it from a local Euronics shop. It was actually a replacement. I bought a Beko one first but there must have been a fault with the condenser as it filled the room with steam. They swapped it for this Zenith one. 

If a replacement had already occurred you can exercise your final right to reject and assuming a few months is less than 6 a full refund is due.  

Harrywayon

There a few filters one at the bottom like my samsungs