Washing Machine Seal broken - Curry's engineer

[muchlovex]

Further to my previous post about my WM I have rang Curry's to advise them that the seal is has a small tear in it. I bought the WM at the end of August 2010 and have only used it no more than twice per week, more-so once per week.

They Customer Service advisor at Curry's said that if the engineer decides that the tear is not their fault then I will be charged.

The thing is, is that I don't know how this has torn. In my eyes is that the rubber must not have been tough enough, or there may have been a slight tear already but I didn't notice it.

Any advice on where I stand with this?
Thank you

[NazNomad]

If the engineer wasn't there when they manufactured the seal and installed it, then he's making ''an educated guess''. This is as valid as your guess that it's their fault.

Argue the toss.

5 months for a washing machine seal isn't ''usual wear & tear'' imo.

[dzug2]

If the seal was not faulty to begin with it's usually damage by you washing something unsuitable like a coin.

It's not unknown for engineers to turn a blind eye to such things though as it is something difficult to prove either way. Unless they actually find the coin......

[muchlovex]

I always check pockets before putting in WM. I have had other WM's and this has never happened before.

[Buenchico]

As stated in my previous post, during the first 6 months after purchase there's an automatic assumption in law (unless there's clear evidence to the contrary) that any problem that develops with an appliance must be due to an 'inherent fault' (which was there at the time of purchase, such as a defective part).

So (for Curry's to get out of providing a free repair) it's up to the engineer to prove that your actions caused the fault. If he can't do so then the law assumes that the machine had an inherent fault. (i.e. you don't need to prove that yourself).

Companies within the Dixons group (such as Curry's and PC World) have a nasty habit of trying to duck out of their legal responsibilities. You need to stick to your guns!

Chris

[theshedman]

Hi, in my experience Currys are the worse company for getting them to do repairs which are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. As Chris says they always seem to try and get out of their legal responsibilities. They work differently to other companies like say Argos. If you buy from Argos they get the engineers from the company who make the machine to repair it whereas Currys send their own engineers to do the repair and so often try to avoid coming out at all. I try and avoid buying there these days after a couple of bad experiences with them. On one occasion I purchased a TV Video that was faulty and after a number of so called repairs which never fixed it they refused to carry when the warranty ran out. I contacted the makers and they just said " we have every confidence in Currys to carry out repairs when needed". I gave up in the end and threw it out. On another occasion I did get my money back after a long chat with the store manager.

[muchlovex]

Just to give you an update. Engineer has been and said it would cost £105 and they would not repair it for free.

Will be writing to Currys..

[AlBags]

Anything could have done it ... a zip ... coin .. heavy load with something metal in it.
A seal costs no more than £15 .. and about 1 hr to fit.
Get a seal and ask a local handyman to do it.