The Washing Machine Saga (or: A Typical Story From Someone Living In England)

[pez]

So, my washing machine broke down on the midnight of 20th February. Contacted the letting agent, who are managing the property because the landlord lives in Australia. It turns out the guy I contacted was the most incompetent person in the world and it wasn't until early April that the company finally got rid of him and put someone else on my case. They were ever so apologetic and promised to get things sorted asap.

An electrician came on 11th April and declared the machine "beyond economical repair", reported back to the agents, who liaised with the landlord about getting a new machine. All seemed well, I told them to keep me updated...

Yesterday, a new washing machine turned up, delivered by Currys. According to the agent, they were supposed to call him upon delivery, because he was waiting outside my place. Currys didn't call, agent went back to the office, Currys showed up, I wasn't home because nobody told me this was going to happen - but luckily Liz was.

Unfortunately, the space for the washing machine is too tight. They have to move the cooker before they can pull the old machine out and put the new one in. So, instead of calling the agent (like they were supposed to in the first place), they decided to leave the machine right in the middle of my flat, and instructed Liz to tell me to call the letting agent about it.

The letting agent, as of this morning, has been informed. He's pissed off that Currys never called him. I'm pissed off that I had no washing machine since late February.

So, any bets on when I'll have a working washing machine?

[Poll #1179555]

To make matters worse, it rained like fucking hell this morning and neither of the shops near work had any milk on the shelves, so I can't have any tea until I go to Tesco this lunch time. DDDDDDDDD:

Comments

[crystalusagi.livejournal.com]

XD Oh, they fail.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's almost comical, really.

[giving-ground.livejournal.com]

In that special CAN WE KILL THEM IN THE FACE NOW kind of way.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

I show them Kane and say THIS IS MY AMUSED FACE.

[giving-ground.livejournal.com]

I like how all the people from the UK so far voted for 'some time before christmas' and the non-UK people were marginally more optimistic... XD;

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it'd have been smoother if I lived in Scotland.. DX

[athena8.livejournal.com]

I'll be optimistic for your sake. =)

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

♥ Thanks.

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

:((( Life sucks when it just goes and does stuff like that. Humanity is so inefficient.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Yeah... I have friend (possible friendS) coming to visit late May, so I really, really hope I'll have a working machine by then.

[semishade@livejournal (from livejournal.com)]

::listens anxiously to the clanking sounds from a 6+ year old washer-dryer::

I got lucky last time, there's a local recycling organisation which offers a washing machine repair service for £15. It's my only experience of anything ever just being fixed. Of course, it didn't involve delivery companies of any kind.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

The electrician said my old machine's model is old and too difficult to find the parts necessary.

I'm amazed that yours still work! Washer-dryers tend to have relatively short lives.

[mayezinha.livejournal.com]

That sucks.

And I never thought this retarded service will ever happen over there. >.>

(And I voted before christmas because I believe it would be around june XD)

[quatorze.livejournal.com]

I'm optimistic because I want to encourage you. ^_^

And you reminded me of something that happened to a coworker of mine, several years ago. So, she moved into an old house, with the bathroom and such facilities downstairs in the cellar. She had her washing machine taken there, connected and everything. Then started it, and of course went upstairs to do something else while the machine was operating.

Went back down some time later, only to realize that the washing machine had apparently stalled soon after she'd gone. Oh damn, so the old thing had broken down when it'd been hauled around while she was moving? Well it was old anyway, better buy a new one. Which she did, and it was duly delivered and connected and everything. She was happy, at last she could take care of the accumulating laundry!

...except that the very same thing happened. She started the machine, went upstairs, came back, and it had stopped.

She was about to call the shop and give them hell for selling defective stuff, then decided to do some testing. And what did she find out?

Yeah, the electricity works in that house, or at least in the cellar, had been made by some brilliant amateur. It transpired that ALL power in the cellar came through one main line -- which was connected through the light switch. In other words, when she'd gone upstairs, she'd naturally switched off the lights, and in doing so she'd also switched off the power to the washing machine...