Washing machine under guarantee will they charge if coin in machine?
Damage caused by coins or objects left in pockets is not covered by a manufacturer’s guarantee and the engineer will normally charge for the repair. If the coin has punched a hole through the plastic outer drum, this is serious damage – check whether accidental damage cover on home contents insurance or an extended warranty applies.
If a coin or other object left in a pocket causes a washing machine fault, the manufacturer’s guarantee will almost certainly not cover the repair. This article explains what to expect, when exceptions may apply, and what options exist if the damage is serious.
Will the Guarantee Cover Coin Damage?
Objects left in pockets – most commonly coins – are one of the most frequent causes of out-of-warranty call-outs during the guarantee period. They can block the pump or, on modern machines with plastic outer drums, punch a hole straight through the drum itself, which is a serious and expensive fault.
Under manufacturer’s guarantees, damage caused by foreign objects is not covered. The engineer attending will be expected to charge the customer for any work required. Some engineers are paid on commission for chargeable calls, which gives them an additional incentive to identify and charge for non-guarantee faults.
Situations Where a Charge May Not Apply
In practice, there are some circumstances where a customer may not be charged, even when the fault is technically not covered:
- Engineer discretion. If the fault is minor – such as a coin in the pump that is easily removed – an engineer may choose not to raise a charge rather than deal with a potential dispute. In these cases, the paperwork may be completed in a way that records it as a guarantee repair.
- Retailer goodwill. If the washing machine was purchased from a local retailer who also arranged the engineer, there may be a goodwill policy of not charging for a first incident where the repair is not significant. This is more common with independent retailers than with large chains.
- Extended warranty with accidental damage cover. Some extended warranty policies specifically include accidental damage cover. If the policy covers objects left in pockets, the repair or replacement may be paid for under that cover. Always check the policy wording carefully.
What If a Coin Has Caused Serious Damage?
If a coin has punched through the plastic outer drum or caused other major damage, the machine may be beyond economic repair. In this situation there are two avenues worth checking:
- Extended warranty. If an extended repair warranty was purchased, check whether it includes accidental damage cover. Some policies do cover this type of fault explicitly.
- Home contents insurance. If the household policy includes accidental damage cover, a claim may be possible. The damage caused by a coin getting inside the machine and destroying the drum could qualify as accidental damage. Check the policy terms before making a claim.
For guidance on repairing a cracked or holed plastic drum, see: how to repair a plastic outer drum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will my guarantee cover damage caused by a coin in the washing machine?
Almost certainly not. Manufacturer’s guarantees cover faults arising from defective parts or workmanship – not damage caused by objects left in pockets. An engineer attending under the guarantee will identify this as a non-guarantee fault and is entitled to charge for the repair.
A coin has punched a hole in the drum – can I claim on insurance?
Possibly. If a home contents insurance policy includes accidental damage cover, this type of damage may qualify for a claim. Similarly, some extended warranties include accidental damage cover – check the policy wording. If neither applies, see: how to repair a plastic outer drum for possible repair options.
Is there any chance the engineer won’t charge me?
In some circumstances, yes. If the fault is minor and easily resolved, an engineer may choose not to raise a charge. If the machine was purchased from a local retailer who arranged the repair, there may be a goodwill policy covering a first incident. If an extended warranty with accidental damage cover was purchased, the repair may be covered under that policy. However, none of these can be relied upon – the standard position is that coin damage is chargeable.
4 Comments
Grouped into 3 comment threads.
1 reply Hi, my 6 month old LG washing machine has been been damaged by a coin in the machine, an engineer has came out, we agreed to pay the charge for repair £130 as accidental damage wasn’t covered under the warranty. We are now 4 weeks in and the repair company instructed by LG are struggling to source the part needed. LG have told me that’s as far as they can go. They want to refund the repair charge (no one has been out since the initial engineer told us it was coin damage) which leaves us with a defunct 6 month old washing machine that cost just under £500. Do I accept this or can I push for further action? Thanks Lisa
0 replies Small holes in laundry seems to be quite a common problem these days. The causes are not always blamed on the washing machine. I have a full article on it, with many contributions in the comments from people affected. I would definitely recommend reading all the following articles - Biological detergents damaging laundry holes in clothes after washing Have you got a copy of the extended guarantee that you purchased? This should tell you exactly what is and is not covered.
Small holes in laundry seems to be quite a common problem these days. The causes are not always blamed on the washing machine. I have a full article on it, with many contributions in the comments from people affected. I would definitely recommend reading all the following articles –
Biological detergents damaging laundry
holes in clothes after washing
Have you got a copy of the extended guarantee that you purchased? This should tell you exactly what is and is not covered.
0 replies Hello, back in 2019, our house was being renovated, soon to be completed. I purchased a Samsung American fridge and a washing machine with 5 years warranty in April 2019 while an offer by the retailer was still valid. Did not use products until the kitchen and the utility room were ready towards the end of summer. All connected and started using the washing machine for a few months after which my wife was noticing little holes on some garments. Unexpectedly, the washing machine seemed to be the cause because she noticed that some items had new little holes after taking them out of the machine, therefore they were being damaged during the washing process. She approached the staff at Currys in December 2019 and January 2020 but after receiving some general advice she was told to contact Samsung. After many attempts, she managed to speak to Samsung customer services who reported the service request to their third-party service company, Domex. To cut the story short after many hours of attempts to speak to the company we had two visits by the engineers, with the first not, not noticing any problems, but the second one after observations and a few checks, said that the drum seems to be faulty, but he does not have one with him. Expecting that the problem could be finally resolved, on our contact with the service company, we were told that such parts are not covered by the warranty and in addition, they claimed that scratches on the drum have also contributed to the damages to the clothes. As of now and after 15 months of back and forth communications none of the mentioned companies are willing to help us. Apologies for the long comment. Thank you.
Hello, back in 2019, our house was being renovated, soon to be completed. I purchased a Samsung American fridge and a washing machine with 5 years warranty in April 2019 while an offer by the retailer was still valid. Did not use products until the kitchen and the utility room were ready towards the end of summer.
All connected and started using the washing machine for a few months after which my wife was noticing little holes on some garments. Unexpectedly, the washing machine seemed to be the cause because she noticed that some items had new little holes after taking them out of the machine, therefore they were being damaged during the washing process.
She approached the staff at Currys in December 2019 and January 2020 but after receiving some general advice she was told to contact Samsung. After many attempts, she managed to speak to Samsung customer services who reported the service request to their third-party service company, Domex.
To cut the story short after many hours of attempts to speak to the company we had two visits by the engineers, with the first not, not noticing any problems, but the second one after observations and a few checks, said that the drum seems to be faulty, but he does not have one with him.
Expecting that the problem could be finally resolved, on our contact with the service company, we were told that such parts are not covered by the warranty and in addition, they claimed that scratches on the drum have also contributed to the damages to the clothes.
As of now and after 15 months of back and forth communications none of the mentioned companies are willing to help us.
Apologies for the long comment.
Thank you.
Hi, my 6 month old LG washing machine has been been damaged by a coin in the machine, an engineer has came out, we agreed to pay the charge for repair £130 as accidental damage wasn’t covered under the warranty. We are now 4 weeks in and the repair company instructed by LG are struggling to source the part needed. LG have told me that’s as far as they can go. They want to refund the repair charge (no one has been out since the initial engineer told us it was coin damage) which leaves us with a defunct 6 month old washing machine that cost just under £500. Do I accept this or can I push for further action?
Thanks Lisa
Likely replying to Lisa bell
Hello Lisa. What they are saying makes no sense, surely they can’t be saying that there are no spare parts available for a 6 month old washing machine? If they are that’s ludicrous. Manufacturer’s are obliged to keep spare parts for at least several years. If the washing machine can’t be repaired you may have to seek help from a consumer group under the Consumer Rights Act from the retailer. It’s complicated by the fact it has been damaged by a coin unfortunately, but that shouldn’t detract from the fact that they sold you a washing machine that can’t be repaired. I don’t believe LG cannot supply the spare parts btw.