Industry Insights
Insight into the appliance repair trade: how it works, repair or replace, spare parts and pricing, and the issues that affect owners and engineers.
Showing 11 to 20 of 29 guides
The Right to Repair - White Goods
UK Right to Repair law requires spare parts for 10 years, but the EU goes much further. See what UK law actually covers and why it falls short.
16 min read
2,060 views 14 comments Read guide
Is the Consumer Rights Act 2015 too hard on retailers?
Dishwashers are designed to work with three separate components: detergent, salt, and rinse aid. Multi-tab (all-in-one) detergent tablets claim to replace all three, but for them to work correctly most dishwashers need to be…
4 min read
543 views 15 comments Read guide
Out of Warranty Repairs: Do You Have to Pay?
Being told "the guarantee has run out so there's nothing we can do" is one of the most common responses consumers receive when an appliance develops a fault. In many cases, it is simply…
11 min read
1,153 views 43 comments Read guide
Which? Money Helpline Saves Members Over a million pounds
When a retailer refuses a valid claim for a faulty appliance, most consumers give up. They should not. There are free, effective services that give consumers the backing they need - and the evidence…
10 min read
165 views Read guide
Consumers Lost Billions Not Using Consumer Rights
UK consumers pay out hundreds of millions of pounds every year for repairs and replacements they were legally entitled to have covered for free. The reason is not that their claims are invalid -…
10 min read
196 views Read guide
Who Really Makes Your Appliance?
The UK washing machine market appears competitive - dozens of brands, hundreds of models. But behind those familiar logos, a handful of global corporations make the vast majority of appliances sold in Britain. This…
9 min read
10,431 views Read guide
ISE Washing Machines Overview
ISE - Independent Service Engineering - was one of the most ambitious and idealistic projects in the history of the UK white goods industry. Born from the frustrations of working engineers who watched appliances…
13 min read
516 views 3 comments Read guide
What Does No Call Out Charge Mean?
When a repair company advertises "no call out charge," most people assume it means the visit will cost nothing if the appliance cannot be fixed. That is not what it means - and misunderstanding…
9 min read
800 views 4 comments Read guide
Are Free Estimates Really Free?
Many appliance repair companies advertise free estimates and no call-out charges. However, the costs involved in sending an engineer to diagnose a fault do not disappear simply because they are not listed on an…
8 min read
252 views Read guide
Why are there so many appliance repair horror stories?
Getting an appliance repaired at a reasonable price and to a good standard is harder than it should be. Understanding why requires looking at how the repair industry has changed - and what the…
5 min read
437 views 9 comments Read guide