The grumpy thread

[adw1977]

For reference when choosing an appliance:

[Wibble]

10 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Absolutely would never buy a Hotpoint appliance... Ever. (Or whirlpool, indeshit etc) 

When they looked like this, they were ok.. excellent in fact 

 

Late 2019 they issued a recall for a list of models for recall. An elderly relative had one of the models, but in a different colour. I couldn't fathom how the colour made any difference but since it wasn't on the list we weren't concerned. You may remember at the time it was all over the news how people were told not to use their washing machine right upon Christmas 

Fast forward to April 2020, quelle surprise, elderly relative's model is added to the list. I knew it deep down. The recall is those models sold between 2014 - 2018. Elderly relative bought it in 2015, and it was an affected model on the list

Phoned up customer service* to be spoken to like some sort of delinquent.. I gave the model and serial, and after a couple of seconds "nope, that ones not affected pal" - I asked how he's come to that conclusion "it just isn't affected"

I was extremely dubious, and asked if they can put it in writing that this model and serial number is not affected because as far as I'm concerned it's part of the recall, and should it catch fire then the insurance company would wonder why she was using an appliance announced as unsafe and condemned for use "no sorry can't do that" 

I was very unhappy, and so was the relative who was now worried that the washing machine could catch fire without her noticing until it was too late.

Not something either of us were willing to risk so just took the fucking washing machine to the tip in the end, absolute bag of noisy shite it was anyway. The bearings were noisy from about 18 months old, conveniently just out of warranty but never got any worse strangely. 

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2019/12/hotpoint-and-indesit-washing-machines/

Insurers would never expect customers to know a machine was subject to a recall, they’re not as bad as people thing and usually look at ways of accepting a claim rather than declining. However, that’s not the point and, yes, the manufacturers were shameful in their actions but I’ve seen thee same problem with fridges, dishwashers too. Bosch, Beko, could name them all. Just heed what I said earlier, don’t leave things on overnight, or leave home with appliances still running👍

[RoverFolkUs]

On the flip side of all this appliance malarky, in around 2016/2017 I realized my Beko fridge freezer purchased around 2003/2004 ish was in fact subject to the recall they launched many years ago.

Filled out the form online, and within 2 weeks the engineer came out and replaced the dodgy component free of charge. He said if there was any signs of overheating I would have been sent a brand new fridge freezer and the old one taken away the next day free of charge! 

Just goes to show the difference. And it's why I've been buying Beko appliances more recently. They're not the best, but they're pretty good. And their customer service is great, in my experience

[Wibble]

1 minute ago, RoverFolkUs said:

On the flip side of all this appliance malarky, in around 2016/2017 I realized my Beko fridge freezer purchased around 2003/2004 ish was in fact subject to the recall they launched many years ago.

Filled out the form online, and within 2 weeks the engineer came out and replaced the dodgy component free of charge. He said if there was any signs of overheating I would have been sent a brand new fridge freezer and the old one taken away the next day free of charge! 

Just goes to show the difference. And it's why I've been buying Beko appliances more recently. They're not the best, but they're pretty good. And their customer service is great, in my experience

Of course we all need these appliances and I would second this and have found Beko pretty good to be fair, despite previous bouts of spontaneous combustion 🙂

[RoverFolkUs]

7 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

For reference when choosing an appliance:

Yeah, all rebadged crap basically. It's the same with TVs, some Panasonic models are in fact made by Vestel who make the cheap brands as well, Bush, Luxor, Digihome and other crap brands. 

5 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Insurers would never expect customers to know a machine was subject to a recall, they’re not as bad as people thing and usually look at ways of accepting a claim rather than declining. However, that’s not the point and, yes, the manufacturers were shameful in their actions but I’ve seen thee same problem with fridges, dishwashers too. Bosch, Beko, could name them all. Just heed what I said earlier, don’t leave things on overnight, or leave home with appliances still running👍

My thinking about insurance was more about the point that multiple letters were sent out and the homeowner was technically well aware she had a dodgy appliance. I do understand it's difficult for them to know whether the customer was aware/negligent but in any case as you say the point stands the manufacturers were negligent in removing faulty appliances from people's homes in good time. 

Never leaving things on is also my best advice, but unfortunately she had short term memory issues and may put a load of washing on and then go upstairs for a nap. Hard of hearing and may not hear a smoke detector until it was too late we were all worried sick about it and that's why the machine was taken to the tip in the end

 

[RoverFolkUs]

3 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Of course we all need these appliances and I would second this and have found Beko pretty good to be fair, despite previous bouts of spontaneous combustion 🙂

It is a risk but the fact mine has had the recall done does give me enough confidence

[RoverFolkUs]

1 minute ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Yeah, all rebadged crap basically. It's the same with TVs, some Panasonic models are in fact made by Vestel who make the cheap brands as well, Bush, Luxor, Digihome and other crap brands. 

My thinking about insurance was more about the point that multiple letters were sent out and the homeowner was technically well aware she had a dodgy appliance. I do understand it's difficult for them to know whether the customer was aware/negligent but in any case as you say the point stands the manufacturers were negligent in removing faulty appliances from people's homes in good time. 

Never leaving things on is also my best advice, but unfortunately she had short term memory issues and may put a load of washing on and then go upstairs for a nap. Hard of hearing and may not hear a smoke detector until it was too late we were all worried sick about it and that's why the machine was taken to the tip in the end

 

Edit to add - it was decided in the end that it was a faulty Hotpoint fridge that caused the Grenfell tragedy. Coincidence, Hotpoint, I think not

[New POD]

11 hours ago, grogee said:

I really really shouldn't be grumpy about escaping this poisoned isle and its doom-laden grey skies, but... Here's Birmingham airport: our whole plane has one check in desk. 45min in and we're halfway through the queue. 

Then, funtime security queue to follow. Yay!

I went through Birmingham Airport on Wednesday am on business to Verona, today we visited Brescia and Modena. Got a call off one of the purchasing people back in the factory, could I bring 100 small components out of a batch of 12000 back with me. 

Yes, but they'll have to deliver to the hotel, as we aren't going back to that factory and they will be closed. 

Fucking twats have left 2boxes containing 560 parts, 12.7kg in each box. I have a 1hour stop over at Amsterdam, it was 10pm until I hit back to. The hotel.

how the fuck am I supposed to put them in my handluggage? 

 My colleague and I have taken then all out of the trays they are in and stacked them in one box, which just fits in his hand luggage. I have a tray in my lap top bag, he has a tray in his laptop bag. He can hardly lift his carry on bag up as it weighs at least 22kg.  Fuck knows if we'll get through security (twice) or if KLM will spot it's over weight for carry on? 

When we get to brum, we have to go to customs and declare these "samples" 

Hilarious? 

[Wibble]

8 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Yeah, all rebadged crap basically. It's the same with TVs, some Panasonic models are in fact made by Vestel who make the cheap brands as well, Bush, Luxor, Digihome and other crap brands. 

My thinking about insurance was more about the point that multiple letters were sent out and the homeowner was technically well aware she had a dodgy appliance. I do understand it's difficult for them to know whether the customer was aware/negligent but in any case as you say the point stands the manufacturers were negligent in removing faulty appliances from people's homes in good time. 

Never leaving things on is also my best advice, but unfortunately she had short term memory issues and may put a load of washing on and then go upstairs for a nap. Hard of hearing and may not hear a smoke detector until it was too late we were all worried sick about it and that's why the machine was taken to the tip in the end

 

Yep, totally understand. My parents had an affected fridge but were unaware until I visited to check it out, as I was worried for the same reasons as you. They were never contacted by the manufacturers and hadn’t seen it in the press. 

I’ve been dealing with household insurance claims for over thirty years and negligence is very hard to prove and so rarely a route pursued by insurers, so please don’t be overly worried about that.

As you say, you can’t trust old brand names that previously may have been recognised as quality, as so many now are just old names bought up and the same crap being pedalled off under different brands.

[RoverFolkUs]

2 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Yep, totally understand. My parents had an affected fridge but were unaware until I visited to check it out, as I was worried for the same reasons as you. They were never contacted by the manufacturers and hadn’t seen it in the press. 

I’ve been dealing with household insurance claims for over thirty years and negligence is very hard to prove and so rarely a route pursued by insurers, so please don’t be overly worried about that.

As you say, you can’t trust old brand names that previously may have been recognised as quality, as so many now are just old names bought up and the same crap being pedalled off under different brands.

Thanks that's good to know. Maybe that was just my inner cynic showing 😀

I just don't feel it's worth the risk with dodgy appliances, especially so living in a flat where a fire could affect so many other people

Brand names rarely mean anything nowadays anyway as you say, 

Beko tend to be one of the only ones that don't get outsourced, I know they make Blomberg appliances as well but I think that's it's, when it comes to their large kitchen appliances at least. 

Mine have all been decent, the fridge is coming up 20 years old, had a cooker that was 18 years old and only got rid of it due to getting a bigger one with a fan oven to be a more efficient. The previous washing machine lasted about 7 years and the one I have now is coming up 4 years old and still going strong. It's not the best but for one of the cheapest out there it's good enough. All Beko, and customer service has been great when required. 

Though having said that I did have one Beko washing machine that lasted a day - went up in smoke after a couple of uses, it decided to eat the door seal when spinning 🙄 a new machine was delivered a couple of days later, so wasn't too bad. 

I assume most of their cheap small appliances are rebadged though as they all are

[Wibble]

10 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Thanks that's good to know. Maybe that was just my inner cynic showing 😀

I just don't feel it's worth the risk with dodgy appliances, especially so living in a flat where a fire could affect so many other people

Brand names rarely mean anything nowadays anyway as you say, 

Beko tend to be one of the only ones that don't get outsourced, I know they make Blomberg appliances as well but I think that's it's, when it comes to their large kitchen appliances at least. 

Mine have all been decent, the fridge is coming up 20 years old, had a cooker that was 18 years old and only got rid of it due to getting a bigger one with a fan oven to be a more efficient. The previous washing machine lasted about 7 years and the one I have now is coming up 4 years old and still going strong. It's not the best but for one of the cheapest out there it's good enough. All Beko, and customer service has been great when required. 

Though having said that I did have one Beko washing machine that lasted a day - went up in smoke after a couple of uses, it decided to eat the door seal when spinning 🙄 a new machine was delivered a couple of days later, so wasn't too bad. 

I assume most of their cheap small appliances are rebadged though as they all are

I believe they also make industrial appliances which is probably a good sign.

As for living in a flat, I totally get your concerns after the like of recent events. Other common examples I’ve encountered are flat owners with water damage from the flat above and asking if they can claim their damage from the owners of the flat that had the water leak. Again, unless you can prove they deliberately left that tap running, or knew their washing machine was about to leak and they were therefore negligent, you have no chance. 

It’s the same if the house next door burns down, causing serious smoke or indeed fire damage to you house. You can’t claim on their insurance, even though the fire was nothing to do with your house. They didn’t deliberately set fire to their house (usually 🙂) so are not negligent and there is no course to pursue. Everyone, make sure your own property and contents are adequately insured!

[Metal Guru]

17 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Thanks that's good to know. Maybe that was just my inner cynic showing 😀

I just don't feel it's worth the risk with dodgy appliances, especially so living in a flat where a fire could affect so many other people

Brand names rarely mean anything nowadays anyway as you say, 

Beko tend to be one of the only ones that don't get outsourced, I know they make Blomberg appliances as well but I think that's it's, when it comes to their large kitchen appliances at least. 

Mine have all been decent, the fridge is coming up 20 years old, had a cooker that was 18 years old and only got rid of it due to getting a bigger one with a fan oven to be a more efficient. The previous washing machine lasted about 7 years and the one I have now is coming up 4 years old and still going strong. It's not the best but for one of the cheapest out there it's good enough. All Beko, and customer service has been great when required. 

Though having said that I did have one Beko washing machine that lasted a day - went up in smoke after a couple of uses, it decided to eat the door seal when spinning 🙄 a new machine was delivered a couple of days later, so wasn't too bad. 

I assume most of their cheap small appliances are rebadged though as they all are

Beko are the consumer arm of Turkish company Arcelik who are owned by Koc holdings. See why they use the name Beko! They also make Grundig appliances.

I agree with comments re Hotpoint but have never had any problems with Indesit funnily enough.

Our Hotpoint tumble drier broke down  at least twice a year and was replaced by a Miele that has been faultless for ten years.

However, expensive German brands are not necessarily any better overall. I had a Bosch washer dryer that lasted a week and a couple of Liebherr fridge freezers that just managed to pass their warranty period before breaking down. They’re probably better at cranes .

[RoverFolkUs]

5 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Beko are the consumer arm of Turkish company Arcelik who are owned by Koc holdings. See why they use the name Beko! They also make Grundig appliances.

I agree with comments re Hotpoint but have never had any problems with Indesit funnily enough.

Our Hotpoint tumble drier broke down  at least twice a year and was replaced by a Miele that has been faultless for ten years.

However, expensive German brands are not necessarily any better overall. I had a Bosch washer dryer that lasted a week and a couple of Liebherr fridge freezers that just managed to pass their warranty period before breaking down. They’re probably better at cranes .

Hmm, well Indesit and Hotpoint are owned by whirlpool, and I think they are under the umbrella brand Merloni but don't quote me on that! 

Used to hear of Indesits exploding on the spin cycle, but I suppose there will always be a horror story for everything 

Miele are the dog's danglies, they're bloody heavy though!

Cheap Bosch appliances are shit. If it's a Bosch made in Spain, it'll be shit and nothing to do with Bosch really. Check the label if looking at one in store (do people still do that these days!?) to find out for sure. No experience with Liebherr so can't comment on them, but I do know someone who had a fridge that didn't last very long and I think it was a Liebherr now you mention that brand 

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

Beko are the consumer arm of Turkish company Arcelik who are owned by Koc holdings. See why they use the name Beko!

Arselick and Cock Industries used to give us a right laugh when I worked in electrical retail.

Nowadays I'd buy the cheapest shite in the shop, or a Miele.

 

[Split_Pin]

Ebay is being a pillock this morning. Listings only partially load and I'm trying to make an offer on a car.

Maybe its a sign 🤣

[paulplom]

It's probably doing you a favour. Either that or your Mrs has hacked ebay itself.

[Split_Pin]

Seems to be working again, offer submitted!

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm trying to make an offer on a car.

I'm hoping this is for the car I think it is.

[myglaren]

I have a 'recall' tumble dryer.  They came and did whatever it was they had to do within a week.

Currently not in use, don't use it much anyway but the condensate pump just gurgles.

It is waiting it's turn for fixing, the Bosch washer comes first.  Ordered new inlet solenoid valves two months ago, out of stock.

It has a bit of a rebellious streak.  Often turns on the extra rinses so takes two hours for a 40° wash.

It won't do a 20° or 30° wash, just keeps pausing and has to be restarted.  40° it is then.

[J W Pepper]

10 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Absolutely would never buy a Hotpoint appliance... Ever. (Or whirlpool, indeshit etc) 

When they looked like this, they were ok.. excellent in fact 

`

Years ago things were built to last, now they don't last 5 minutes. My grandparents have just had to replace their freezer and tumble dryer which they had for over at least 25 years each. They also have a electric tyre pump which my grandpa says is from the 60s, still works, compared with another he has, a fairly new one (last 5 years) and it broke after a few years, didn't really get much use.

[horriblemercedes]

9 hours ago, Wibble said:

Yep, totally understand. My parents had an affected fridge but were unaware until I visited to check it out, as I was worried for the same reasons as you. They were never contacted by the manufacturers and hadn’t seen it in the press. 

I’ve been dealing with household insurance claims for over thirty years and negligence is very hard to prove and so rarely a route pursued by insurers, so please don’t be overly worried about that.

As you say, you can’t trust old brand names that previously may have been recognised as quality, as so many now are just old names bought up and the same crap being pedalled off under different brands.

This. I briefly had a job in home insurance when I was much younger. I remember when I started, my uncle got quite nasty about it, telling me that insurers are all snakes just trying to screw innocent people on technicalities.

The answer couldn't have been further from the truth. That just wasn't the attitude at all. If a claim was fair, it was paid. There would be formalities and questions but that's just due diligence really. If a claim was obviously fraudulent it would be investigated and pursued, which seems fair enough.

I can't recall any faulty appliance cases (it's some years ago and I was only there for less than a year) but I really think it's unlikely that anyone there would've been trying to trip a granny up because of a fault with her Hotpoint fridge from Dixons.

 

I've only ever made one insurance claim in my life, but that was dealt with very well (a car drove into the side of my car as I passed a T junction and then drove away). I had a witness. Calmly gave the insurance company all the details I knew and wrote an intelligible email stating it all. I had my money and all was solved within a week or so. 

 

The internet is a great place to read about how evil insurers/petrol station owners/Arabs/lawyers are, but in my experience, most things are done a certain way for a reason. If something seems strange or wrong, the chances are that it's just because you've overlooked the reason it's done that way.

[horriblemercedes]

3 minutes ago, J W Pepper said:

Years ago things were built to last, now they don't last 5 minutes. My grandparents have just had to replace their freezer and tumble dryer which they had for over at least 25 years each. They also have a electric tyre pump which my grandpa says is from the 60s, still works, compared with another he has, a fairly new one (last 5 years) and it broke after a few years, didn't really get much use.

99% of tyre pumps from the 1960s broke decades ago and were thrown away. In 50-60 years, there will be someone with a tyre pump they bought in 2022 that works who will tell everyone that tyre pumps from 2080 are rubbish and everything was built to last back in the 2010s and 2020s.

It has always been this way. It is called survivor bias. The survivors are the evidence we have that the old machines were better, however the ones that remain were the ones that were particularly high quality or better maintained and repaired.

[J W Pepper]

1 minute ago, horriblemercedes said:

99% of tyre pumps from the 1960s broke decades ago and were thrown away. In 50-60 years, there will be someone with a tyre pump they bought in 2022 that works who will tell everyone that tyre pumps from 2080 are rubbish and everything was built to last back in the 2010s and 2020s.

It has always been this way. It is called survivor bias. The survivors are the evidence we have that the old machines were better, however the ones that remain were the ones that were particularly high quality or better maintained and repaired.

I forgot to mention the 1960s pump has hardly been used. That has obviously helped its survival

[Remspoor]

17 hours ago, MikeR said:

we have some woods, parking and wifi  , deer and F all else , but it works , the more u wont , the more u miss , center parks it is not , but I dont  miss the book in and parking

You have more than me when I was a child.

Went to the lakes usually camping. I remember the campsite at Buttermere and the Langdales was usually wet. Went walking up some hill side most days. First vacation away from parents I went to Pontins. Never ever been back to that sort of place UK or abroad.  Hate the seaside too.

[MikeR]

4 minutes ago, Remspoor said:

You have more than me when I was a child.

Went to the lakes usually camping. I remember the campsite at Buttermere and the Langdales was usually wet. Went walking up some hill side most days. First vacation away from parents I went to Pontins. Never ever been back to that sort of place UK or abroad.  Hate the seaside too.

the joys of camping , and the trek in the dark to the delightfull bogs to rid oneself of drinking excess ..... 

I will stick to stumbling around the staic to the on suite now .

[RoverFolkUs]

4 hours ago, J W Pepper said:

Years ago things were built to last, now they don't last 5 minutes. My grandparents have just had to replace their freezer and tumble dryer which they had for over at least 25 years each. They also have a electric tyre pump which my grandpa says is from the 60s, still works, compared with another he has, a fairly new one (last 5 years) and it broke after a few years, didn't really get much use.

I bought an electric tyre pump last month. Used it for the first time today and it started smoking within 5 minutes(!) 

That's right, such great quality it overheated pumping a tyre up from 22psi to 32psi 🤦

It still works, you just can't use it for much more than a few minutes at a time

All tyre pumps are shit, I have a couple of single barrel ones where the gauges have stopped working, a double barrel one with a leaking valve, a "Ring" branded electric one which has stopped reading pressure and now this cheapy one that overheats after a couple of minutes. 

I know the common theme here is buy cheap buy twice but surely working as it should when brand new isn't not too much to ask for!?

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, Remspoor said:

You have more than me when I was a child.

Went to the lakes usually camping. I remember the campsite at Buttermere and the Langdales was usually wet. Went walking up some hill side most days. First vacation away from parents I went to Pontins. Never ever been back to that sort of place UK or abroad.  Hate the seaside too.

It was always Shell Island for us.Once we'd been a few times and found the good spots to pitch in it was great..

Raf Llanbedr was still active so usually a few jets flying in and out,mainly Hawks as Valley is just up the coast.

And being the sensible kids we never went under the fence to jump all over the McConnell Douglas Phantoms that the fire service were practicing on....nope

[MikeR]

went to hospital in the car ( focus)

bastard streets had limited parking everywhere , and the wardens were out checking ...  FFS where is a visiting car supposed to park ,

yet when our neck of the woods gets submerged in summer visitors the idea of residents parking is put down due to cost .....

so parked in a 2 hr max slot and waited for my appt time and then went for the multi story parking  and then got seen by the Drs

paid my 3 quid in the multi story , thats after dropping my change all over the floor and being a "old" guy actually got offered help by security !!

tried getting home , yep every red light at every junction ...and some dozy bone heads wondering what to do on green ..

followed up by our local council closing lanes on the bypass again to cut the grass ,  long Q's  so  did a detour , rather sit there burning off petrol ..

so by the time I got home my 15 notes of petrol was nearly used up by a trip to Liverpool and back !!!!

 

[goosey]

Thought I would be efficient and change the front air springs on the wife’s car, 4 hours later and it’s a fail I need to make a special tool to compress part of the strut top to get the retaining clips in 😢

tomorrow mornings job now, at the moment I’m stuffing my face with a huge trifle 

[Zelandeth]

Why is there some unwritten rule that states that no UK Hotel can ever have sodding working air conditioning?

We've managed to shave a whole 0.5C off since I checked in at like half three.

This ain't a cheap hotel either!

To be fair...nowhere around here is this weekend, so I paid a little extra for somewhere <200 metres from the event and one that claimed to have AC in the rooms...