Ontario man spends almost $2,000, waits 10 months for oven repair
When Darren Horn’s 11-year-old Fisher & Paykel oven started malfunctioning last May, he said he Googled repair services, and called the first one that popped up in his search to come fix it.
While Horn lives in Whitby, Ont., the company he called, Express Repair, is based in Concord, Ont.
“They came, but after about six or seven visits and about $600 worth of service, it still didn't work," Horn said.
Horn said the repair company told him they could sell him a similar refurbished oven for $1,350. Horn agreed but said that unit didn’t work either.
“They installed it and the problem is once they installed it, it didn't shut off, and it kept heating up and heating up and the entire kitchen was 700 degrees. It just wasn’t safe,” he said.
On top of the original repair costs, which was $597, Horn said the total cost of replacing an oven has set him back almost $2,000 – now, ten months later, he says he still doesn’t have an oven.
“They keep dragging their feet saying we are waiting for a part and waiting for a part, just give us more time," said Horn.
Express Repair has many complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website and the lowest rating of “F.”
Founder and CEO of Express Repair, Igor Imas, told CTV News Toronto what happened when their technician arrived to check out Horn’s oven.
“Our technician arrived on site and diagnosed the problem with the control boards being defective and partiality worn out, therefore they needed to be replaced. The order was placed for several parts that were required to repair the appliance as the client was aware that the appliance is very old, and some parts were on back order with no estimated time (ETA) of arrival,” Imas said.
“Some of the parts arrived and some were still on back order with no ETA from the manufacturer, therefore we tried to repair the appliance with the parts the manufacturer did send, but the repair was not successful.”
Imas said they offered Horn two options, which were to either wait for the parts, or pay for the work and cover 30 per cent of the costs of the parts, as they were specially ordered.
“We found a similar used model from our suppliers and offered it to the client but unfortunately, this unit stopped working after the installation and again the manufacturer had no ETA for the necessary parts for this model,” said Imas.
“The refund and the client’s old oven were prepared, but we did not get a signature or a response from the client. As stated, we tried to assist the client in many ways.”
Consumer Reports has done many studies on appliance repairs and recommends going directly to the manufacturer’s website, where you'll find authorized and approved repair services in your area.
"I would recommend going to the actual manufacturer and checking their website," said Keith Flamer, appliance expert with Consumer Reports. “If you go with an authorized dealer you have a bit of backup, because they can back up their work and they are more likely to get the parts first."
In the end, Express Repair agreed to refund Horn $910, which he plans to use to help buy a new oven.
“I felt frustrated and stuck. You hope eventually they are going to fix it, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen,” Horn said.
Consumer Reports advises against spending more than 50 per cent of the cost of a new product on an old one, especially if it's broken down before.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues
The death toll from Hurricane Helene inched up to 227 on Saturday as the grim task of recovering bodies continued more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the Southeast and killed people in six states.
Car flies into B.C. backyard, lands upside down
A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone’s backyard.
Donald Trump, Elon Musk attend rally at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate Trump
Donald Trump returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, holding a sprawling rally with thousands of supporters in a critical swing state Trump hopes to return to his column in November's election.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Vanderbilt takes down AP poll No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in one of college football's greatest upsets
Vanderbilt takes down AP poll No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in historic college football victory.