Should I get a repair or refund on my broken dishwasher?

Question

Our dishwasher has broken, but is a month out of warranty. With Christmas approaching we really need to have it repaired, or to buy a new one, as we have family coming to stay. The repairman has told us that he can’t fix it but, as we’ve only had the dishwasher for just over a year, we could claim some money back because it should have worked for six years. Is this correct?

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Answer 

Regardless of your warranty, you are protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This says goods must be of satisfactory quality, which includes durability.

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‘That is the deciding factor,’ says Peter Stonely, lead officer for civil law for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). ‘Is the fault in line with the age of the dishwasher and reasonable use? If not, you can ask the seller for either a repair or a replacement or, failing that, some form of refund.’

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However, Peter says you’ll need to negotiate any refund based on the age of the appliance. ‘As the dishwasher is 13 months old, it might be appropriate for you to contribute something towards the cost of repair, pay something towards a replacement or only take a refund equivalent to the use you have not had.’

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The repairman’s six-year comment refers to the contractual rule that if goods are faulty, you have six years to make a claim (usually via the small claims court). It doesn’t mean a product has to last six years, just that you have this long to make a claim.

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