FED UP with chucking out faulty gadgets that can’t be fixed?
As of this month, suppliers now have to make spare parts available for a number of key household appliances to help them last longer.
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The aim of so-called “right to repair” rules is to make it cheaper for customers to fix broken items than to throw them away.
But not all your electricals qualify.
Sarah Davidson looks at what’s covered under the new rules and what’s not.
Plus, she find out if you should swerve expensive warranty add-ons at the checkout . . .
THE RULES
FOR appliances covered by the new rules, manufacturers must supply spare parts for between seven and ten years after a model has been discontinued.
In the manuals, they must include instructions for repairs that can be easily carried out by the customer.
Repairs that aren’t safe for the owner to attempt themselves won’t be covered in the manual – but parts should still be made available so they can take the gadget to a professional instead.
WHAT IS COVERED
- Dishwashers
- Washing machines and washer-dryers
- Fridges and freezers
- TVs and computer monitors
- Lights
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(Bought from July 1, 2021 onwards)
WHAT’S NOT COVERED
- Tumble dryers
- Ovens and hobs
- Microwaves and other kitchen gadgets
- Laptops and desktop computers
- Smartphones and tablets
THE CATCH
SADLY, firms can demand what they like for spares.
Consumer champion Martyn James says: “My fear is that some companies will charge an extortionate amount for replacements, so that in some cases it’s still not worth repairing appliances.”
If a repair must be carried out by a professional you will have to pay them and an extra 20 per cent for VAT, he warns.
The rule also doesn’t ban manufacturers from “bundling” spare parts, which could mean you have to pay for a widget you don’t need in order to get the one that you do.
Martyn adds: “Shop around for the best quote for repairs – TrustATrader, Checkatrade and Which? can help you find highly rated tradespeople.”
HOW TO GET A REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT
Under the Consumer Rights Act, you can:
- Receive a refund in the first 30 days after purchase if goods are not of “satisfactory quality, as described or fit for purpose”.
- lGet your money back up to six months after the shop has had the chance to fix or replace the item if it’s still not right.
- Return a faulty item for up to six years after you bought it, provided it was “reasonable” to expect it to last longer than it did – but there are no hard and fast rules on how long gadgets should last.
Martyn adds: “ ‘Reasonable’ is so subjective. I’d argue that a washing machine, fridge or oven should last well over five years, so complain to the manufacturer if yours packs in.”
IS IT WORTH BUYING A WARRANTY?
DON’T be fobbed off by shops or manufacturers that tell you your gadget is “out of warranty”.
Martyn says: “Their guarantees might offer refunds within the first year, for example.
“But these are on top of your consumer rights – so if a device fails after that time, they can’t just give you the cold shoulder.”
Writer and qualified solicitor Nicola Laver says extended warranties or care plans sold by retailers “don’t add much to your basic rights”.
Sun Money looked at the guarantees and care plans offered by Argos, Ao.com, Currys and John Lewis.
At £449 for five years, Ao.com’s plan on a £599 Bosch fridge freezer was the priciest.
The main extra benefit was cover for accidental damage.
‘It’s maddening that I can’t get spare parts for my old blender’
COMPUTER programmer and former government adviser Glenn Shoosmith bought a £200 Kenwood blender which broke after eight years.
He said: “The motor still works really well, but it’s recently got a tiny crack in the plastic so it leaks.
“I tried to buy spare parts and was told they don’t make them any more.
“It’s maddening as it is something that should be so simple to replace.”
Glenn, 46, who lives in Ticehurst, Sussex, with his wife Angela, 44, and their daughters Thea, nine, and Verity, six, was also furious that a £400 De’Longhi coffee machine failed after four years.
When the gadget’s boiler unit stopped, Glenn found the cost to get it repaired would be more expensive than the price of a new machine.
Glenn added: “Talk about ‘buy cheap, buy twice’.
“It turns out you can ‘buy nice’ and you still have to buy twice.”
SUN MONEY WINS ENERGY FEES FIGHT
THREE major energy suppliers have agreed to scrap exit fees of up to £200 for customers on fixed energy deals after pressure from Sun Money.
But others have refused to budge, charging customers up to £300 to leave fixed-rate deals from around a year ago that are now above the price cap for customers on standard tariffs.
Around 1.5milllion people who took out fixes when energy prices were near their peak will pay higher bills from this month just as costs for everyone else fall.
That is because the Government has been subsidising their tariffs to bring them in line with the price cap.
But that subsidy is now being reduced, so their bills will rise by up to £500 a year.
Meanwhile those on standard tariffs with typical energy use pay less from this month as annual bills fall by £426 to £2,074.
Simon Francis, of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “These households thought they were doing the right thing by fixing their energy tariffs. It turns out they’ve been taken for a ride by energy firms.”
But after calls by Sun Money, British Gas, Octopus Energy and Utility Warehouse agreed to waive exit fees for these customers, letting them switch to cheaper options.
Ovo would not waive the fee, but will subsidise the rate so anyone who fixed last year won’t pay more than the price cap.
Others including Scottish Power, whose exit fees are up to £300, Shell Energy and EDF would not budge.
Mr Francis added: “Energy firms must bring all tariffs into line with the Ofgem price cap or waive exit fees for these customers.”
MUMS’ PENSION PAYOUT
By Ellie Smitherman
NEARLY 200,000 pensioners – mostly former stay-at-home mums – are in line for payouts of just over £5,000 following blunders by officials.
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that it will start making payments to those parents who have been underpaid the state pension.
But the National Audit Office, which monitors Government departments, said that as many as 210,000 pensioners weren’t paid enough.
The DWP will only be making payouts to those who contact the Pension Service because data protection rules mean the DWP has had to delete records going back a certain number of years.
An estimated 43,000 pensioners have died but their families could claim on their behalf.
The pensioners affected are those who claimed child benefit before May 2000 and who took time out of work to care for their children.
These parents could fill gaps in their National Insurance record under the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme.
Former pensions minister Steve Webb, now a partner at consultancy LCP, said: “The scale of these errors is huge.”
He urged anyone who received child benefit before May 2000 to check for gaps in their NI record on gov.uk or by phoning the helpline on 0300 200 3500.
