Specialists vs. the local workshop

If your appliance is no longer covered by the warranty, it might seem like a good idea to contact the manufacturer's service department anyway, as they certainly are experts in your particular model. However, sometimes they might not have a local site, and the added cost of posting the appliance might make it worthwhile to shop around for an alternative. In other cases, like washers or dryers, the appliance itself might be too heavy to post. Not to worry, you can find many qualified local repair services in our PropertyPro directory.

Things to watch out for

Although we would hope that all repair services are trustworthy, it's good to know your rights as with any situation where a contract (verbal or otherwise) is involved. Your rights are protected by the Supply of Goods and Services Act. In a nutshell, here's what it has to say. Don't worry; we'll spare you the legal jargon:

• The repairperson should do his/her job with reasonable care and skill.
• The work should be completed in reasonable time, if you haven't agreed a completion date. It's tricky to tell what 'reasonable time' is for a job, so it's always a good idea to agree a completion date before work starts, preferably in writing. Unexpected delays may crop up, so be flexible (within reason).
• You should be charged a reasonable amount, if the fees haven't been agreed to beforehand. To be on the safe side, ask for a written quotation. You might be charged for this estimate, as it might involve taking the appliance apart. It also helps to shop around to get an idea of what the 'going rate' is for that sort of job.

Also, any replacement parts fitted should be the right ones for the job, and should be of good quality. This is specified in the Sale of Goods Act. If these replacement parts are new, you may also have other rights specified in the warranty.

Further Reading

• www.hints-n-tips.com - Tips on appliance repair for the keen do-it-yourselfer.
• www.citizensadvice.org.uk - Official site of Citizens Advice, a consumer rights group.
• www.netlawman.co.uk - Detailed description of the Supply Of Goods And Services Act.
• www.hants.gov.uk - A Frequently Asked Questions page concerning appliance repair.