Washing Machine bill

Korkyb

Hi

Telephoned a local washing machine repair man & got a quote over the phone for what he thought might be wrong with machine.

He said it couldn't be fixed at home so came in past a couple of days later & picked up the machine.

A few days later he told me machine was beyond ecenomic repair. I asked what I owed him for his time so far & he said £30 which I thought was fair enough.

Just got the bill this morning & it included an £18.50 which was never mentioned at any point.

I dont mind paying what I'm due but don't fancy being taken for a mug.

Any advice appreciated.

Bossyboots

I must confess to being extremely puzzled over what fault this was that could not be fixed at home. Over the years I think we have replaced virtually every conceivable part of a washing machine ourselves so I can't imagine what someone who actually repairs them for a living couldn't do without taking the machine away.

If he told you that you owed him £30 then only pay that, but please find out what was supposedly wrong with the machine. What is the £18.50 listed as? I would guess either a collection charge or a charge for disposing of the machine from his premises (after he has made a nice little earner stripping it for spare parts!).

Korkyb

Hi

He originally said that the bearings had gone but after taking it away said that the drum had cracked.

The £18.50 was listed as a "call out charge"

bobbywomble

give him the 18.50 and knock him for the £30 sounds like he is having a laugh
buy yourself a haynes manual from halfords
they do one on washing machines and tumble dryers very handy bit of kit
saved me a fortune :beer: :beer:

Bossyboots

I can see no reason for him needing to take it away. We have had bearings go on two machines and OH has done the necessary repairs. We also had a drum crack and again, OH replaced it himself. All in the confines of our own premises. It may well be right that the costs just of the parts made the machine uneconomical to repair but it could have been inspected and diagnosed in your home for just the call out charge. I now agree that you should pay the £18.50 only. He will have stripped your machine for useable parts which he will no doubt charge other customers for.

lipidicman

If he had repaired it he would have had to return it. You should insist that he does this anyway: in the same condition that it was when he took it away. If he cannot do this then withold payment until he produces a contract where you signed your goods over to him to keep (you didn't sign anything like that did you?)

bobbywomble

yeah ask him for it back
see what he says
its parts are prob in 5 other machines already

rchddap1

The drum on our machine went a while back. It was still under its 5 year parts warranty, so just had to pay for a call out charge. The guy came, diagnosed the problem...ordered the part, went away...came back and then fitted the part. There was never any need for him to take it away to 'diagnose' as everything could be done at our house....including the ordering of the part we needed fitting.

bargainaddict

I agree, I would ask for the machine back. If he returns it you may be able to get a second opinion. If he cant return it for whatever reason you did not give him permision to dispose of it, just diagnose the problem. At the very least if he cant give it back I wouldn't give him a penny. Not sure how you stand legally, might be worth finding out if he hasn't got it anymore whether he has to provide you with another machine?

John_Jackson_2

Just another quick point: did you get him out of the Yellow Pages or from another advert?

Many of them advertise “No call out charge” and “Free estimates”. If he advertised that then there should be no charge at all.

The machine is still your property and should be returned to you.

If he does charge a call out charge (and that’s not unreasonable) pay it on return of your machine.

Of course, you could always decide to sell him the machine as scrap for £30.

alanobrien

Korkyb wrote:

Hi

He originally said that the bearings had gone but after taking it away said that the drum had cracked.

The £18.50 was listed as a "call out charge"

Bearings i can believe but a cracked drum is unlikely.
My brother never saw one in the umpteen years he worked for AEG repairing appliances.