Busted 2 year old fridge freezer.

[Taita]

Hello there,

Fridge freezer (£450 2 years ago) has started to die and only keeps things cool if it is set to 'maximum turbo freeze' rather than conventional 1-5 options in the settings.

Have replaced the seal (£40) at the local branch of a chain's suggestion and tried to the usual defrost.

They've offered £128 towards the cost of a new one as it is out of the 1 year warranty. This strikes me as a bit poor - I don't think 2 years for a fridge is reasonable. Does CRA or anything apply here? The individual in the shop is being very helpful, but his hands are tied by his boss. Manufacturer not interested, and I guess contract is with the retailer anyway.

Thank you for any advice

[Taita]

Shop doesn't seem to be willing to consider a repair - it is 'here is some money off or nowt'

I'm happy to dig my heels in slightly, but keen to know which legislation supports my position. Although I also need to make sure my food stays cold in the interim

[Taita]

dhutch said:

I feel you pain, as I too would expect it to last 20 years minimum. I got 7 years out of the one which came with my house for £50.

You don't mention the make.model, but the price you paid is not far from top dollar for a standard 600 wide floor standing unit, if obviously much nearer budget price for a 900-1200 and or 'american' style unit. I am surprised it only has 1 year on the refrigerant components.

It would be interesting to know what an independent repairer would make of it, cause of issue, cost to repair.

Did it come from an budget/online type outlet, or was it from a local bricks and mortar type outlet? The latter tend to be much better in these instances, if obviously with the potential to vary outlet to outlet.

Can't add much more, other than my commiserations you are in this mess. bds I say!

Daniel

It is one of these, so bog standard fridge on top, fridge on bottom:

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/hcn6182wk/hoo...

(it wasn't from here)

It came from an XYZ Electrical store (where XYZ is some letters), which has a branch in the town I live in. They sell electric fires, TVs etc. Bricks and mortar place.

Under the CRA I'd say 2 years isn't reasonable at all - guess I just need to convince them of this!

[Taita]

Fastdruid said:

Have you *fully* defrosted it?

By that I mean left it for ~48h or so turned off?

Because "frost free" freezers are st. They work by blowing air over and round the cooling element, except that freezes up, so they have a heater...which doesn't really work. So they have in the small print a get out of "defrost every 6 months"...and if you don't the fan eventually freezes up and they stop being properly cold. What the fk is the point of "frost free" if you have to defrost the fking thing every fking few months anyway? Show me a non-frost free that gets *that* iced up over 6 months to be a problem?

I would never buy another frost free freezer, give me one where every now and then you have to chip off slabs of ice because at least those stay fking cold.

I will give this another crack after this weekend (got far too much meat for the BBQ at the moment )