MasterCare Coverplan?

AccyMad · 17-11-2009, 12:21

Hi, does anyone have a MasterCare insurance plan for anything electrical bought from Currys or Dixons?
My washing machine is covered by this plan & have never had any bother with it but I have now been trying for 4 days to get through on the phone to them with absolutely no joy.
The automated service goes through all the options, which product, area you live etc, but then cuts off completely.
Anyone got any ideas on how I can find out if they've gone bust???
I've tried ringing various Curry's stores but it's the same damned automated service no matter which number you ring - Help!

BERNADETTE · 17-11-2009, 14:17

Can you not get over to Whitebirk to the shop? I know you shouldn't have to do that but could be a way of getting things sorted

AccyMad · 18-11-2009, 19:57

Was thinking I may have to make the trek Bernadette, not easy with no transport, but I finally got through today and an engineer is coming on Friday. OK, it's an all-day call out meaning I'll be stuck in but not bothered, just hope he can fix it and doesn't need to order any parts.

BERNADETTE · 18-11-2009, 20:06

Oh good at least you will get sorted, bit of a pain waiting in but has to be done

Neil · 18-11-2009, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyMad

OK, it's an all-day call out meaning I'll be stuck in but not bothered, just hope he can fix it and doesn't need to order any parts.

Well you should be bothered. I bet they did not tell you what poor service you were paying for when they took the money from you for the coverplan.

How old is the washing machine?

K.S.H · 18-11-2009, 22:16

I never take these insurances out with anything I buy, tell them its covered on my house insurance, then get told it doesn't cover breakdowns, a reply "does if i drop it down the steps when moving it" usually stops them from pestering any further

AccyMad · 19-11-2009, 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Well you should be bothered. I bet they did not tell you what poor service you were paying for when they took the money from you for the coverplan.

How old is the washing machine?

To be fair (which I wasn't feeling when I wrote the first post

) I've had this cover for a few years now, and it has been worth the money as they've repaired it a few times with no question.
The washer is nearly ten years old now, and it's the first time I've had this sort of problem with them.

Neil · 19-11-2009, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyMad

To be fair (which I wasn't feeling when I wrote the first post

) I've had this cover for a few years now, and it has been worth the money as they've repaired it a few times with no question.
The washer is nearly ten years old now, and it's the first time I've had this sort of problem with them.

Out of interest what do they charge you each year to cover a washing machine? I get these reminders my appliance warranty is up and an offer of a coverplan and just bin them.

AccyMad · 19-11-2009, 12:11

It's about £67 for the year which I pay in 3 installments - not bad really for peace of mind that it's covered whenever it goes wrong, either for a repair or if it's too far gone, they'd replace it with a new one.

Neil · 19-11-2009, 12:42

Work out what you have paid over 10 year though and add on the cost of the machine.

You can buy machine machines with a 10year parts and labour warranty from the manufacturer. You get a better machine as well.

cashman · 19-11-2009, 16:04

never had one of those never will, just regard em as a con to screw ya,bought a telly fer 600 plus in 97, which i though was pricey at the time, from dixons i think it was on squires gate rd blackpool,when i lived just around the corner, was faulty within days of installation, rang em they took it after 3/4 days saying ya will have it back tomorrow or day after, 5 weeks later after many phone calls n popping in, cos they had a repair place in that building, i got it back, had no relacement tv in that time, boy was i glad i never bought Mastercare.

AccyMad · 19-11-2009, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Work out what you have paid over 10 year though and add on the cost of the machine.

You can buy machine machines with a 10year parts and labour warranty from the manufacturer. You get a better machine as well.

Fair comment, but it's a matter of what was affordable to me at the time I bought the machine and now that it's so old I know I can get it repaired without any more expense (at least I can when I can get through on the phone

)

Studio25 · 20-11-2009, 11:40

Extended warranties are only really needed if you don't want the hassle of exercising your statutory rights, or want to extend your scope for claims beyond what you get as a consumer automatically.

A machine which comes with its own ten-year warranty goes beyond your statutory rights anyway, and may also cover other eventualities too (wear and tear, accidental damage)

Neil · 20-11-2009, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studio25

Extended warranties are only really needed if you don't want the hassle of exercising your statutory rights,

What would you class as a reasonable life span for a washing machine under the sale of goods act, 5 years?

Studio25 · 20-11-2009, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

What would you class as a reasonable life span for a washing machine under the sale of goods act, 5 years?

Therein lies the problem - it all comes down to personal opinion and how good the consumer is when it comes to convincing the district judge of what's "reasonable".

My own opinion is that a washing machine, indeed all white goods, should last into double figures. There was a thing on the radio some time ago about a fridge which was over 75 years old.

However, like everything, the unit cost is the bottom line now, and items are being mass produced without consideration for ease of servicing later in the product's life.

The Sale Of Goods act (as amended) means that you have, in effect, a six year limitation on the amount of time you can sure for badly manufactured or badly designed goods. If an item fails within six months of purchase, the retailer (note, not the manufacturer) is obliged to prove it's through misuse or negligence rather than a design or manufacturing fault. After that, the consumer takes on the responsibility of proving it.

The six year limit is just the time in which you can sue - it doesn't mean the item is expected to last that long, it just means that for something that is valuable enough and should reasonably be expected to last that long, you are able to take action.

When our new washing machine died after just 14 months, we should really have pursued it, but in the end, we couldn't be bothered. It's that sort of wussy modern attitude that manufacturers are relying on.