Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

[Markgolf]

Hi All,

I have a Neff Fridge Freezer (Integrated). I set about getting one of those online, no fix no fee repair schemes, great I thought, this was 1 month ago.

The fridge freezer had died, nothing was cold and every 4 mins, you would hear the compressor start but immediately stop.

An engineer turned up, 6:05pm after me taking a day off work when I’m normally home then, for him to walk in, making sure I know he is now working out of hours and that he would normally have not shown up.. He took a look at my fridge, pressing the walls and then plugged it in, heard the noise and said the compressor requires replacing, great. Off he went to enjoy his Friday evening.

The part arrives with the engineers a week later and another one is scheduled to come visit, again, he turns up late, 5pm this time, came in and I felt as if he signed when he saw that the fridge freezer was integrated.

Now, I know NOTHING about fridge freezers but this guy, a different engineer to the first, started pressing the back wall and said to me, its blown, there’s a leak and this can’t be repaired. I said ok but the last guy did exactly what you just did and said that everything looks ok, it was only until he plugged it in that he diagnosed the compressor as being faulty.

The long story, short, is that my fridge’s back wall has blown and that means there is a leak in the system, unviable repair.Off he went, taking the part with him.

Now, I am left questioning what has gone on here, was he just lying to me so that he could go home because it would be a long job?

Just for your info, I’m a pretty strong guy and with much force, I cannot feel any movement or flex in ANY of the walls inside the fridge or freezer, they are COMPLETELY rock solid, so what he was saying has me confused. To those in the know, was he fobbing me off?

A few days later, the warranty company call to let me know the latest (A refund I hoped), they read out what the engineer had logged, the call read “compressor replaced, leak in system, not worth repair”. To that, I said, the guy was not in my house for more than 5 mins, just like the first guy. No compressor was fitted and my INTEGRATED fridge freezer was 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} not pulled out.

They are now investigating, great but I’m still stuck with a tiny counter top fridge which is hard work when you’ve got a family to feed.

Thanks for reading and hope you can add your opinion.

Cheers

[kwatt]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

To answer the basic question that you are asking, no that does not sound right.

They may as well have cracked out an ouija board and prayed to the sun god as pushed the back wall to detect a leak. A complete nonsense frankly if they did that and, I don’t much care who it was, that’s shoddy an unprofessional in my opinion.

If I did that when on the road a certain part of my anatomy would be meeting a sling shortly after along with temporary deafness from the reaming I’d get.

All about compressors here:

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/help/fix- … ompressors

The symptoms you describe are classic indicators of a simple compressor failure, nothing more, nothing less.

It is also true to say that, it is a lengthy job to do and that, whether it has bearing or not, that the repair would almost for sure have cost more than you paid them. Read into either of both as you choose.

K.

[Martin]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

Agreed, does sound like a new compressor will fix. Insulation issues, total ballcocks. But the good news is, in spite of two visits and a long time no fridge freezer, it has cost you nothing so far….or has it? 😕

Replacing a compressor on and integrated FF will be a costly exercise. So you might well be advised to avoid these ‘no fix no fee’ cowboys and go back to the manufacturers service partners (BSH) or a local bonefide independent repairer for their honest ‘over the phone opinion’.

[Markgolf]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

Thank you both for the advice.

I gave this company who sub contract out nationwide repair guys to come and look, another chance. An engineer from ANOTHER repair company came to look, instantly said it was the compressor but he’ll write it off so I get a new one. I said the fridge/freezer isn’t covered until it’s repaired. He said, in that case, I’ll say it’s blocked so you get your money back. I said, can you not just replace the compressor, he said we dont really like to break into them and the unit is integrated and raised off the floor so we’ll both need to lift it out or 2 of them will be needed. I said, so basically, you don’t want to do the job.. No was the honest answer followed up by, it’s not worth it. I just let it go and I’ll take my money back from the broker (go assist) who contract these guys. Can’t believe I have gone the entire summer without and now I’m back to square 1.

So now, I’m very handy in terms of car mechanics and able and willing to take apart and attempt a repair at anything. If I order a new compressor, approx £230 RRP from espares, is it a simple bolt out and bolt in job?

The only sticking point I then have is someone coming to recharge the fridge freezer, I’m not sure if there are local mobile units that do home visits for that?

Excuse my ignorance if I have cut some steps out, it’s my first experience of this but I would like to keep the unit and repair it if I can/if feasable. If I can get the new compressor for £189 / £223 (espares show 2 options) and then circa £50/60 to recharge, I would be happy with that. Please correct me if I’m dreaming and walking down the wrong road.

It is a Neff K8524X4GB/02.

Thanks again for all advice, it is much appreciated.

[kwatt]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

This will answer most of that…

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/help/fix- … ompressors

Compressor can be gotten for a lot less than that. 😉

Labour and someone skilled in doing it, not so much. It’s normally at least 1-2 hours work plus sundries.

K.

[Markgolf]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

Thanks for the link again! Read it all the way this time, shame that they need to be brazed/lokringed, I can’t do that bit 🙁 I know a domestic plumber however? I was hoping they would be nut joints like on a cars AC system. 🙁 doh!!

If the job could be done for under £350 then I would certainly get someone in to do the lot, I just dont know who to trust/call now!

Bugger!

[kwatt]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

Depends where you are, try the engineer search.

K.

[admin]

Re: Ripped off – Dodgy engineers?

Hi

A plumber will not be able to fit a compressor as it will need a vac pump brazing/lockrings,drier and refrigerant. Dependant on where you live depends the labour and experience of the engineer.

Bryan

[Author]

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