What authorised appliance repair actually means
"Authorised repairer" gets thrown around a lot, and it is easy to muddle it up with your warranty and your consumer rights. They are three separate things, and knowing which one applies changes who you should call and whether you should be paying at all.
What "authorised" means
An authorised repairer is one a manufacturer has signed off to work on its brand. They are trained on those specific models, have guaranteed access to genuine parts, and log the repair back in the manufacturer's system. When an appliance is still inside its manufacturer warranty, repairs usually need to go through that authorised channel, because using an outside repairer or non-genuine parts can void the cover.
So the first question is not who is the best repairer. It is how old is the appliance and is it still under warranty.
Warranty and consumer guarantee are not the same
A manufacturer warranty is a voluntary promise for a set period, typically one or two years. Separate from that, Australian Consumer Law gives you consumer guarantees automatically on anything you buy, and these can outlast the printed warranty.
The ACCC explains the difference between a warranty and your guarantee rights in plain terms: goods must be of acceptable quality and last a reasonable time given the price. A dishwasher that dies at two and a half years may still be the retailer's problem even though the warranty ran out at twelve months. If your appliance is newish and has failed early, go back to the retailer or manufacturer first. A free repair or replacement beats paying for one.
Once it is out of warranty
After the warranty is done, the calculus changes. You are free to choose whoever you like to repair the appliance, and there is no warranty left to void. This is where an experienced repairer earns its keep. What still matters is that the job is done properly and with the right parts for the model, whether that is a Bosch dishwasher, a Fisher & Paykel washer or an older oven that has served its time.
Genuine or correct-spec parts are not a sales pitch. A pump or seal built to the wrong tolerance wears out faster and can cause the very leaks and faults you were trying to fix.
Where we sit
Wollongong Service Company is a family-owned business that has been repairing appliances across the Illawarra and South Coast since the 1980s. We are an authorised repairer for all the major brands we service and carry parts for them, so we work on them in warranty and out, and our repairs carry a warranty of their own. The assessment fee is $125 across the Illawarra and $145 further out, and you get a quote before any work starts.
If your appliance is still under manufacturer warranty, have your proof of purchase handy when you book. If it is out of warranty, or you are weighing up whether it is worth fixing at all, our guide on repair versus replacement is a good place to start.
Which brands is Wollongong Service Company authorised to repair?
We are an authorised repairer for 16 brands, and we also repair Miele without being an authorised Miele agent. For the 16 we carry genuine parts and work on appliances both inside and outside their manufacturer warranty.
| Brand | Authorised repair | Genuine parts | Brand page |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEG | Yes | Yes | AEG repairs |
| Asko | Yes | Yes | Asko repairs |
| Beko | Yes | Yes | Beko repairs |
| Blanco | Yes | Yes | Blanco repairs |
| Bosch | Yes | Yes | Bosch repairs |
| Electrolux | Yes | Yes | Electrolux repairs |
| Euromaid | Yes | Yes | Euromaid repairs |
| Fisher & Paykel | Yes | Yes | Fisher & Paykel repairs |
| Haier | Yes | Yes | Haier repairs |
| Hisense | Yes | Yes | Hisense repairs |
| Kelvinator | Yes | Yes | Kelvinator repairs |
| LG | Yes | Yes | LG repairs |
| Omega | Yes | Yes | Omega repairs |
| Samsung | Yes | Yes | Samsung repairs |
| Smeg | Yes | Yes | Smeg repairs |
| Westinghouse | Yes | Yes | Westinghouse repairs |
| Miele | No. We repair Miele but are not an authorised Miele agent | Not claimed | Miele repairs |
If your brand is not on this list, you can still ask. We will tell you whether we can repair it before you pay the assessment fee. The fee is $125 across the Illawarra and $145 further out, and the quote comes before any work.
Manufacturer's warranty, extended warranty and consumer guarantee: what is the difference?
A consumer guarantee comes from the law and applies automatically. A manufacturer's warranty is an extra promise from the manufacturer, and an extended warranty is a paid-for extension that may or may not add any rights. The table sets out the differences as described by the ACCC, as at November 2026.
| Consumer guarantee | Manufacturer's warranty | Extended warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who gives it | Australian Consumer Law. No business has to opt in | The manufacturer, as an extra promise it chooses to make | A business that may be different from both the manufacturer and the seller |
| Cost | Nothing. It applies automatically | Included in the sale of the product | Usually sold separately for an extra cost |
| How long | A reasonable time, depending on the product | A set period chosen by the manufacturer | Extends the length of the manufacturer's warranty |
| Effect on your other rights | Cannot be taken away | Sits on top of the guarantees and cannot replace, change or take away your basic rights | May or may not give extra rights beyond the automatic guarantees |
The ACCC explains that consumer guarantees are automatic and cannot be taken away, while warranties are extra promises a business can choose to make. Its page on warranties says guarantees continue for a reasonable time depending on the product, and that an extended warranty may or may not give extra rights on top of them.
Does a repair by someone else end my consumer guarantee rights?
No, not by itself. The ACCC says that consumer guarantee rights under the Australian Consumer Law exist independently of any manufacturer's warranty and are not extinguished simply because a consumer has had goods repaired by a third party.
That statement comes from the ACCC's action against Apple over how it described those rights. The manufacturer's warranty is a different matter. In guidance written for buyers of agricultural machinery, the ACCC says a manufacturer may say its warranty is void if someone outside its network services the machine, that it is usually within its rights to say so, and that the consumer guarantees still apply. We cite that as a general principle only, because the terms of your warranty are what count.
That is why we suggest reading your warranty before you book anyone for an appliance still under it. An authorised repairer can do warranty work so that the manufacturer's conditions are still met, and your rights under the law sit underneath either way. This is general information and not legal advice.
Do manufacturers have to keep spare parts for my appliance?
For a reasonable time after you buy it, yes. The ACCC says the manufacturer or importer must provide spare parts and repair facilities for a reasonable time after purchase, even if you did not buy the goods directly from them.
That guarantee does not apply if you were told at the time of purchase that repair facilities and spare parts would not be available after a certain time. What counts as reasonable depends on the product. The ACCC sets this out under repairs and spare parts. For the 16 brands in the table above we carry genuine parts.
Ready to book? Get in touch or call 02 4229 3777.
