extended warranties on electrical items

Bill Wright · 2018-07-29T03:17:40+00:00

The new freezer came with an envelope containing the instructions and so forth. There was a large label on the bag: REGISTER NOW!" This would 'activate the free one year guarantee'. This seems to do no more than duplicate our statutory rights. In the bag was a glossy brochure offering 'Peace of mind'. Peace of mind is worth a lot so I read on. It turned out that the peace of mind was limited to not worrying about the freezer breaking down. But it was so cheap! The three year plan was only £77! But hang on a minute! The first year is definitely covered by the normal warranty (and if the freezer died during the subsequent months I'd be looking at my consumer rights, since it is not a budget freezer.) And the £77 is not a one-off payment; it is (as the tiny print implies but doesn't explicitly state) an annual payment. So for £231 I would get warranty for years two and three. And the price could increase: "We reserve the right to alter the fee..." If payment is by direct debit there's a £10 per annum reduction, presumably because you would continue to pay during the second and third years without really being aware of it. The warranty includes 'damage caused accidentally' (I just can't imagine a likely scenario that would lead to a claim, having read through the exclusions) but not the cost of spoiled food if the freezer breaks down or there's a power cut. If the freezer is a write-off during the warranty period and a new one is supplied the customer would have to pay delivery charges, install the machine themselves, and dispose of the old machine at their own cost. £231 would go a long way towards the cost of a replacement freezer. That would be with a statutory warranty of at least twelve months. My experience of white goods extended warranties is that if the item breaks down you have to wait hours for the phone to answer, then jump through hoops during a very long phone call, then the repair man comes many days later. We once had to...

Jul 29, 2018 84 Replies

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tim... 7 years ago

It might be illegal for someone to offer an incentive to take up a credit plan (can't be bothered to find out).

it most certainly is not illegal to offer an incentive not to.

tim

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johnt 7 years ago

Which isn't what I suggested. The problem is that if Interest Free Credit is offered then it must be at the price paid for the item. So if a discount is offered, then Interest Free Credit must be offered on that discounted price also. --

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bert 7 years ago

Your mother's not the Queen?

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tabbypurr 7 years ago

No, better to use vegetables for that

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Bob Minchin 7 years ago

Spooky! Something that I 100% agree with Harry over

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