How to Avoid Picking a Bad Servicer
When you invite someone into your home to repair an appliance, you put a lot of trust in them. That means it is incredibly important for you to make sure you know who you are hiring, and that you pick a good appliance repair servicer.
We recently had a customer find out exactly what happens when you aren’t careful about who you hire. He called us because he had a Commercial Maytag washer that was not spinning out. When we arrived, he explained that he had already had another servicer come out and try to fix it, but the technician disappeared and wouldn’t return his calls.
The first repairman supposedly changed the pump and the belts, but the machine still didn’t work. After trying to contact the technician several times, the customer decided to call us instead.
After a thorough diagnosis, we found that the “new” belts looked like they were at least 15 years old, and the pump didn’t fit on the washer. In fact, the first repairman had cut the steel on the washing machine to fit the pump! We asked where the customer had found his repairman. When he told us that he had found him on Craigslist, we really weren’t surprised. Our customer was left with an irreparable washing machine and a very expensive lesson learned.
Pictures of the Shoddy Repair Job
Anyone can go online and claim to be able to fix an appliance. That doesn’t mean they can. And when they say their work is guaranteed, that might easily be a “taillight warranty” – it expires when the taillights of their truck fade in the distance. Don’t make the same mistakes as our unfortunate Craigslist customer.
How to Find a Good Appliance Repairman
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations.
- Check the company’s Better Business Bureau rating.
- Verify they are a licensed contractor in good standing.
- Assess the tech’s professionalism. Is he (or she) wearing a uniform and driving a market service vehicle?
- If they only accept cash, be very wary.
- Get the details on the repair warranty, and make sure they use OEM parts.
- The invoice and the business card should have an address on it.
- Trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable when the technician arrives at your door, call the office to reschedule or cancel the service. Claim you have an emergency. Just keep yourself safe.
There are things you can do to protect yourself from being taken in by an unscrupulous fake technician. The most important rule is to trust your gut! There are plenty of excellent washing machine repair experts out there, and you deserve to work with someone who will make you feel comfortable and treat you well.
