Wollongong Service Company

What Actually Happens on an Appliance Repair Visit

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What Actually Happens on an Appliance Repair Visit
The assessment fee, the diagnosis, the quote, the parts, the warranty. A straight run through what a repair visit involves and what it costs.

If you have not had a tradesperson out for an appliance before, it helps to know how it works and what it costs before you book. Here is the whole thing, start to finish, with no surprises left for the day.

Booking

You tell us the appliance, the brand and model if you can find it, and what it is doing. The model number is usually on a sticker inside the door, around the frame, or on the back. It helps because it tells us which parts the machine takes, so we can load the van accordingly.

You can book online and we will call you back to find a window that suits, or ring us and sort it on the spot. We aim for same-day where we can, and we will give you a call when the technician is on the way rather than leaving you waiting in all day.

The assessment

When we arrive, the first job is working out what is actually wrong. That is a fixed fee: $125 across the Illawarra, $145 for the outer South Coast. It covers the technician coming to you, diagnosing the fault properly, and telling you what it will take to fix.

That fee is charged whether or not you decide to go ahead with the repair, because the diagnosis is the work. It is not a hidden call-out that turns into a bigger bill later. You know the number before we knock on the door.

Clearing the space around the appliance before we get there speeds things up. If we need to pull a machine out or get underneath it, a clear run saves time.

The quote

Once we know the fault, you get a price for the repair, parts and labour, before we touch anything. If it is a quick fix and we have the part on the van, we will often just say so and get on with it. If it is a bigger job, you get the number first and decide.

Sometimes the honest answer is that a machine is not worth repairing. If the part is expensive, the appliance is old, and you would be throwing good money after bad, we will tell you that too. We have written more on when to repair and when to replace if you want to think it through.

Parts and the repair

Our vans carry the parts that fail most often, so a good share of repairs are done there and then. If your machine needs something less common, we order it in and come back to fit it once it lands. There is no second assessment fee for that return visit.

While we are in there, we will check for anything else on the way out, and it is worth knowing that appliances do get safety recalls from time to time. If something is under an active recall, you are usually better off going through the manufacturer's free recall repair, and we will point you that way.

Payment and warranty

You pay once the repair is done, and we invoice you. Afterpay is there if you would rather spread it.

Every repair carries a warranty on the parts and the labour. If the same fault comes back within that period, you call us and we come back at no extra charge. That is separate from your rights under Australian Consumer Law, where a repair also has to be carried out with due care and any replacement part has to do its job.

Booking one in

That is the whole process. No mystery, no creeping charges, a fixed fee to find the fault and a quote before any repair. If you have got a question first, the FAQ covers the common ones.

Ready to sort it? Book a repair online or call 02 4229 3777, and we will get someone out to you.

Common questions

Do I still pay the assessment fee if I don't go ahead with the repair?

Yes. The fee is $125 across the Illawarra and $145 for the outer South Coast, and it is charged whether or not you go ahead, because the diagnosis is the work. It is not a hidden call-out that turns into a bigger bill later.

Where do I find my appliance's model number?

It is usually on a sticker inside the door, around the frame or on the back. It helps because it tells us which parts the machine takes, so we can load the van accordingly.

Is there a second fee if a part has to be ordered in?

No. Our vans carry the parts that fail most often, but if your machine needs something less common we order it in and come back to fit it. There is no second assessment fee for that return visit.

What if my appliance isn't worth repairing?

We will tell you. If the part is expensive and the appliance is old, we say so rather than have you throw good money after bad. You get the number for any repair, parts and labour, before we touch anything.

What happens if the same fault comes back after a repair?

Every repair carries a warranty on the parts and the labour. If the same fault comes back within that period, you call us and we come back at no extra charge. That is separate from your rights under Australian Consumer Law.

When do I pay, and can I use Afterpay?

You pay once the repair is done, and we invoice you. Afterpay is available if you would rather spread the cost.

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