Saturday, July 16, 2011

Protection Plan - Fair and Honest?

I recently had to purchase a new dishwasher, just a replacement Hotpoint one which was fine as the last one was purchased in 2005 (fair enough..). New one delivered and plumbed in by Curries (also fine..). A few days into using it, it wasn't cleaning correctly, door not clicking shut properly, guy came out fixed it and that's fine too after calling Hotpoint who refered me to Domestic & General (D&G). D&G now offer me an extended warranty which I agreed to which was �69.00 (or 12 mths @ �5.75). This was attractive to me, given that with the original dishwasher's cost of repair was almost �200 and a new one costs �300 approx., as it covered (as our statutory consumer rights do anyway) the first year - but I was tempted by the "extra 2 years..repairs and...damage...no repair bills...caused by accident". I reckoned I should take the �5.75 /month offer for the other 2 years after the first year. However, I've just received formal confirmation from them with an agreement number that talks about my standing order being �14.99 for 12 months..an extra �110.88. This isn't right in my eyes! I was under the impression on talking to the D&G people a few weeks ago that I'd be paying �69 in total over the period of a year to cover me for breakdowns/call-outs/spare parts for the following 2 years. What are D&G playing at here? Am I not in the right here. I've been looking at the OFT site and the way the law is, is designed to stitch the consumer up a bit, if you decide to cancel the agreement...I don't know how much � they're going to take from me now, if I cancel the agreement. Don't know who to complain to but I'll try consumer protection meantime. Any experts out there who can help? I'll be contacting D&G asap aswell. Is it just me or is this all looking a bit bent and crooked? Strangely too, I got a call, not long after I'd taken out the agreement from someone with an Eastern Block accent asking me if I took a warranty agreement out with Hotpoint. I asked him where he was calling from and he put the phone down!..What's all that about!

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