£899 to get a key out of my washing machine

Swasterix

Section62 said:

Swasterix said:

Going by my experience with their “customer services” department, and given that in this case it’s probably your fault (sorry), you have around a 0% chance of them relenting and admitting any fault whatsoever. 

If the Bosch instruction manual is anything like every WM instruction manual I've read then there would be clear instructions somewhere warning of the risk of small items like keys and coins causing damage to the machine and how important it is to check very carefully to make sure all such items have been removed before putting clothes in the machine.

So the BiB would be with good justification.

I've just checked a Miele WM manual, it says the same thing.

Yep, totally agree, which is why I also added “and given that in this case it’s probably your fault (sorry)”. 

GDB2222

Our washing machine drum has small holes in, so the repairer may be able to see the key is there, whilst being unable to retrieve it. 

The repair cost may include taking an angle grinder to the drum to retrieve the key, if the op still needs it. Or, that may be an optional extra.  

Spendless

How much to replace the washing machine and the key? If it's less than £899 and a local repairer can't help, I'd be looking at that option.

EssexExile

The things I saw in washing machines when that was my job. Keys, nails, drills, screws, combs, scissors, coat hangers, bra wires, that pretty gavel stuff you get in fish tanks, stuffing out of soft toys, money, pen knives, credit cards, and much more.

I'm afraid the designers can't guard against every possible abuse of their machines.

shiraz99

There should be a drain gasket underneath the machine which you should be able to access but it can be a PITA to remove and refit but it is DIYable, assuming the key has ended up there, which it probably will do eventually. If it's jammed directly below the drum then machine would probably need to be taken apart and drum removed to get to it, which whilst not impossible is probably best left to an engineer. A local independent engineer should be able to do this for you for a lot less than Bosch are trying to charge.

another_casualty

Wow! Must be one expensive machine . 

Lots of good advice mentioned above . I'm just wondering ..could you claim "accidental damage " on your home insurance if you have that option ? 

Bendy_House

Yeah, but the Miele would have chewed it up and spat it out.

Bendy_House

I have to say, I still wonder how the hell a large coin got past the perforated drum? Where's the gap?!

FreeBear

Bendy_House said: I have to say, I still wonder how the hell a large coin got past the perforated drum? Where's the gap?!

There is a rubber seal for the door to sit in. The drum also bears against this seal, and when it is bouncing around on a spin cycle, it is quite possible for bits to slip through.

EssexExile

FreeBear said:

Bendy_House said: I have to say, I still wonder how the hell a large coin got past the perforated drum? Where's the gap?!

There is a rubber seal for the door to sit in. The drum also bears against this seal, and when it is bouncing around on a spin cycle, it is quite possible for bits to slip through.

There has to be a gap between the inner drum and the seal, if they touched you'd get bits of burnt rubber all over your washing.