Electric Cooker and support/insurance

What has failed? Most cooker repairs are fairly simple, spares readily available ...

1. Buy from John Lewis and you'll get 2 years cover included, and will be given the option to extend by at least 2 more years when that's up.
2. Extended warranties are money down the drain - easy money for the vendors. Put what you would have spent for each such warranty into a decent savings account (a cash ISA if you haven't already got one, assuming you pay tax) and you'll soon build up your own rainy-day fund.

Normal insurance won't cover running repairs due to 'gradually operating causes'. It will cover accidental damage if you've paid to have that option (which is also money down the drain, IMO).

Hi Andy,

Thanks for replying.

A control switch went faulty and I messed up fitting a new one!

I take your point not to bother with the extended warrantee.

Mick.

That can't have written-off the whole cooker, surely?

Hi Andy, No it could be done if I could find an electrician willing to take it on, but if I had known one I would not have tried to do it myself I am ok with most DIY but do not like or feel safe with electrics! Mick.

Whereabouts in the country are you? There may be someone here close enough to assist.

Firstly, the cooker manufacturer may have a fixed price repair. For example =A370 including parts & callout, 90-day 180-day warranty etc.

Secondly, a cooker is the most serviceable appliance after a table lamp. It is a costly carcass, costly glass top, then a handful of electrical components which are readily replaceable.

Contents insurance can provide accidental damage cover, which may cover your repair - but the excess may be =A350.

Age UK (I think their new name) do have a list of approved tradesmen BTW, fixing a cooker is not like a microwave which is monumentally more involved re qualifications and supplier approval. There are often component replacement videos on YouTube and elsewhere.

Hi John, am on the Isle of Wight. Mick.

One thing to consider is that as a single man do you actually need a cooker with an oven? If you never have to do a whole Chicken or large joint then you may be better off with buying a good quality hob .An induction one may save on running costs if you have suitable pans and reasonable two ring portable one can be had for around the £100 mark. My mother now a widow on her own has recently replaced a Rayburn with such an an Item and for those meals when she wants to cook something that would have been done in the oven swears by one of these

G.Harman

As a victim of this sort of thinking when I was a student, I think it's a poor plan. There's plenty of stuff which uses a oven or a grill, even if you're alone. Ok, a combination microwave goes some way towards sorting this, but the real thing is still better. Eg would you do a cake in one?

I have a proper combo microwave and I do do cakes and pies and other baked goods in it. it is better than a large oven for one offs.

Oven chips, you fool.

Microwave chips are better and quicker.

Get a stainless lined microwave... and use John Lewis for 2yr warranty price-match if possible (the magnetron on many is covered for 2yrs, but the rest is often just 1yr and the internal electronics on anything below about =A3350 are as cut down as it is possible to get).

No they aren't.

Hi G, you are right on my age, nearer 70 than 60!

When I was divorced around 9 years ago I bought a new electric cooker

Then after a few years thought I could use the room better and gave it away, I regretted it

From the start and bought the one I have now in 2009.

I use the oven and hobs a fair bit; I cook a good size joint, and then portion it and freeze it then can do a roast dinner

As I go.

I think I have now found an electrician who will try to put my mistake right.

Thanks all,

Mick.

Quite. Do they even still do those nasty things?

Neil

I last saw some in a vending maching at a motorway services.

The Co-op still sell microwave chips but you can't beat deep-fryer chips.