Washer cycle went out 3 months after warranty ended. Bought on MC, extended warranty question

We bought a Washer and Dryer on MC May 2011. It's a Frigidare Model#FAFW4221LW0, it came with a one year warranty.
The "normal" cycle stopped working correctly, now not able to select hot / cold / spin speed. I tried the basic unplug, reset etc, but 1 cycle is dead. Others work so I can still do laundry, I am worried it will die in the not so distant future

After I looked up the warrany period, I recalled we put it on our Mastercard. Sure enough, I called BofA (useless) who referred me to Mastercard corporate (usefulness being evaluated) to open an extended warranty claim, because they automagically give me an extra year on top of manufacturer's warranty. This is the first time doing this, so I have some questions about the process.

In addition to the regular receipts, Manufacturer warranty, and claim form, they want an
"Itemized repair estimate from a service provider such as the manufacturer, retailer or repair shop." If they really had their stuff together I expected them to say "No Problem mr cake78, we'll send our warranty claims person over next week to take great care of you"

This is my dillema - I don't want to be on the hook for a few hundred dollar service call, if MC decides they're not going to pay it, and if they're not going to pay it, I'd take a swing at it myself, replacing a logic board, or the rotary switch dial. If I've ever had an appliance serviced before, there is at least a trip charge, is a trip charge usually covered by this extended MC warranty?

Based on how this goes, I may end up using it more often for stuff that breaks in my home / office. (Cordless phone stopped working 13 months after purchase - same deal on MC and 1 year warranty)

What has your experience been?
How should I get an "Itemized repair estimate"?

Thanks in advance, if there's a better place to post this, let me know.

This is why credit card extended warranties aren't all that great. They put all the liability onto you if they decide not to pay the claim. They call it a warranty but it behaves more like insurance.

Quote from redmaxx : This is why credit card extended warranties aren't all that great. They put all the liability onto you if they decide not to pay the claim. They call it a warranty but it behaves more like insurance.

Exciting, and Rich!

Quote from redmaxx : This is why credit card extended warranties aren't all that great.

That is why Mastercard extended warranties aren't all that great. Amex and Visa handle problems much better, and for smaller claims they don't even require repair estimates.

OP: Get an itemized repair estimate from a good company that's authorized to do warranty repairs for Frigidaire. Good company means not Sears ($$$) and not anybody with no street address listed in their Yellow Pages ad. Yes, Yellow Pages -- not fashionable but still better than idiotic searches that provide only 10 results per screen. Ask MC for recommendations, but Frigidaire factory service wouldn't be a bad choice. Most repair companies will at least partially credit the initial service call and estimate toward the cost of repair, at least if they come back and do it within 30-90 days.

While you're at it, do a credit card chargeback in writing with B of A, exactly as attorney Howard Strong instructs (Google him, check library for his 2 books), just to get them on the hook legally. Card companies have their own rules that go beyond federal regulations regarding time, geographic, and dollar limits for chargebacks, but MC is one of the worst in enforcing its own rules against member banks.

Try forums at places like ApplianceAid.com and ApplianceJunk.com. The latter had many factory available for free. A lot of times when electronic controls quit working, it's because of a bad switch in a touch pad, cracked solder, or bad wiring connectors. Solder often cracks at those connectors.

Quote from larrymoencurly : That is why Mastercard extended warranties aren't all that great. Amex and Visa handle problems much better, and for smaller claims they don't even require repair estimates.

I don't know about Visa, but Amex is the exact same way. My laptop screen went out and they wanted an itemized estimate to fix it. I called the manufacturer (Lenovo) and they said the only thing they could do was charge me for the repair. They diagnosed it over the phone and refused to provide a written estimate.

Don't buy Frigidare
If you open it yourself you kill the warranty

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/ho...daire.html



What error codes do you get

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=..._wcwYHuYNQ

http://www.appliancepartsquick.co...Codes.html

Quote from redmaxx : I don't know about Visa, but Amex is the exact same way. My laptop screen went out and they wanted an itemized estimate to fix it. I called the manufacturer (Lenovo) and they said the only thing they could do was charge me for the repair. They diagnosed it over the phone and refused to provide a written estimate.

It seems that Amex and Visa are more likely to end up paying for repair, compared to Mastercard, but in a case like yours, a local computer shop can be the best choice, and some will provide written estimates for way less than $100.

Cavan: I probably wouldn't buy Frigidaire, either, except maybe for a chest freezer (they make them for several other companies, including Whirlpool), but as with cars, DIY repair won't void the warranty unless the customer does damage or maybe installs non-OEM parts.

might be better off to just sell it to a repair/parts salvage yard and apply the money towards a new non-Frigidare washer.

Quote from beefcake78 : After I looked up the warrany period, I recalled we put it on our Mastercard. Sure enough, I called BofA (useless) who referred me to Mastercard corporate (usefulness being evaluated) to open an extended warranty claim, because they automagically give me an extra year on top of manufacturer's warranty. This is the first time doing this, so I have some questions about the process. In addition to the regular receipts, Manufacturer warranty, and claim form, they want an "Itemized repair estimate from a service provider such as the manufacturer, retailer or repair shop." If they really had their stuff together I expected them to say "No Problem mr cake78, we'll send our warranty claims person over next week to take great care of you"

All they need is a repair estimate sheet. What you do is, you call either the maufacturer or an repair center. Ask them to come over and give you a free estimate. Once you have that in writing, you send it to Mastercard and they will cut you a check for the repair amount.

Or you can ask Mastercard if they have a list of warranty repair shops in your area.

Thanks Daniel32! I'll call around tomorrow.

My HD $99 guarantee specifies they just give me a new machine. Next time might be worth getting a store guarantee?

Broken dishwasher, warranty under charge card, instead of doing the estimate first just had them fix it, charged it on the card and received a credit. Quick and simple.

Yes, I took a chance on being told no but it fell in place just fine.