Noisy fridge freezer

helenwes

Hi, I am wondering what my rights are (if any) for returning a recently purchased fridge freezer from AO.com. I noticed fairly quickly that the appliance is quite noisy when it's in that mode of generating noise, the usual sort of fridge freezer rumble / buzz. Then, as is also usual, it stops for a while where it is quiet, then starts back up. The noise issue I have is that there is a constant extremely high pitched noise in the background, all the time. It's causing me ear pain it is so high pitched and I really can't live with this in the background, it's as if I have terrible tinnitus, which I don't. How do I go about returning the goods for a full refund? I'm guessing I can't but wondered if I do have any rights at all. I'm sure they'll say it's not faulty and it's just the noise to be expected. I did wonder if it was due to the high weather temperatures we've been experiencing,  but now they've dropped and the squeal is still there. 

Aylesbury_Duck

How recently did you order it, and when did you receive it? 

Who installed it?  Is it properly balanced?  Was it left to stand for the specified period after delivery before being switched on?  It may be a balance matter - it's not level, for example - or it could be that it was turned on prematurely before the coolant had had the requisite time to settle.  It's important to rule out installer/user error before you go back to them with a request for a refund.

Ergates

helenwes said:

Hi, I am wondering what my rights are (if any) for returning a recently purchased fridge freezer from AO.com. I noticed fairly quickly that the appliance is quite noisy when it's in that mode of generating noise, the usual sort of fridge freezer rumble / buzz. Then, as is also usual, it stops for a while where it is quiet, then starts back up. The noise issue I have is that there is a constant extremely high pitched noise in the background, all the time. It's causing me ear pain it is so high pitched and I really can't live with this in the background, it's as if I have terrible tinnitus, which I don't. How do I go about returning the goods for a full refund? I'm guessing I can't but wondered if I do have any rights at all. I'm sure they'll say it's not faulty and it's just the noise to be expected. I did wonder if it was due to the high weather temperatures we've been experiencing,  but now they've dropped and the squeal is still there. 

It sounds like you've had it for at least a few weeks, so a full refund would be very unlikely at this point.  Even a partial refund would probably depend on someone qualified confirming there is a fault at all - which might be very hard to prove unless the noise is a symptom of some other issue.

macman

Distance order since AO is online only. So you can return it without reason if within 14 days of delivery under CCR 2013. Unfortunately you haven't given us the key info: how long have you had it?
But first I'd be requesting AO to get a service engineer out to check it under the manufacturer's warranty.
Beyond a month, you have no right to a refund: the retailer can repair, replace or refund: their choice.

helenwes

Thanks everyone, appreciate your responses