Appliance guru - Mind Tshabangu

I made contact, through Appliance guru online booking site, to have my LG toploader serviced.

Mind Tshabangu came to my home on the 25th July 2024 and agreed with me that my machine needed a new gearbox. He gave me the quote for R2680 and said he would come and install the part on the Monday 29th July as he had to order it. I paid him immediately.

On Monday, I contacted him around 11:30 to hear if he was still coming. He let me know he would only receive the part in the afternoon so would come on Tuesday instead. Well, Tuesday came and went and after me calling the company and Mind himself, he then came on the Wednesday.

He said I was not to use the machine until the next morning as the silicone had to dry. I then asked him to please listen to another LG machine, a front loader, and to tell me if that needed any repairs. He said it needed a new pump and as he had one in the vehicle he could do it straight away.

I paid him immediately for that one R1860.

I only used my toploader on Friday and then it was making such a grinding sound that I contacted Mind and sent him the recording I had made of the machine. It sounded like metal on metal .... not healthy at all! This was on the 2nd August and Mind said he would listen to the recordings and get back to me.

Well, as usual, he did not get back to me. I contacted him again. Now I just need to add here that every time I tried to call him, my calls were rejected and I would receive a message "I will call you right back" ..... which never happened!!

When I contacted him on the 3rd August, his comment was: "Sounds like a metal piece touching somewhere". Right, so we were in agreement.

I then heard nothing from him again and on the 6th August I once again enquired as to when he would come to sort it out. By then I had contacted the office again as well and even booked another call out, hoping it would prompt him to come and see to my machine. He eventually rep**** to my messages and said he would be here the next morning before 12 pm.

He did not arrive and what is most annoying is he does not even let me know that he can't make it!!! Very annoying as I sit and wait for him each day to come and I do have other things to do!!

On the 8th August, I once again enquired when he was coming. His reply was on the 8th between 2 and 3 pm.And yes, you guessed it!! Nothing happened!!!

Eventually, after a few more calls and messages he came on the 10th August.I asked him to also bring me my invoices and statement, showing what work he had done ... for my guarantees. He did not understand what statement!! Ok, so I explained it to him. And yes, he arrived here without them.

He then decided that my toploader needed shocks. (I later found out that that particular machine does NOT have shocks but it does have springs) He then said he would contact me with the price on the 12th August by 10 am. Well, as usual, that did not happen so I called him at 2 pm. He then sent a voice note saying he had sent through a message and would follow up by the spares guys and will let me know.

By 6 pm I had not heard from him so messaged him again. His reply was that the parts were too expensive at R1480 and I was to give him till the next day, 13th August, and he would go to Lategan in Gezina to get the parts.

It is now the 30th August. I have not heard a word from him since the 13th August. I got someone else to come and sort my toploader out as I need to do laundry .... This whole episode has taken over a month now!!!!!

When the other guy came and repaired my machine, they found the bolt that holds the drum and gearbox etc was loose and stripped so I had to get a new one and it seems the gearbox was not the correct one either. The bottom plate in the tub was also cracked!!! So, now that machine has cost me double!!! A new call out fee, gearbox, plate, and 4 springs!!

I am most annoyed and will definitely be taking this to the ombudsman as well as Hellopeter!! I have never had such poor service from anyone!!! And as we are pensioners, we do not have loads of money laying around to have to have repairs done ON repairs!!

I am very disappointed in Mind. He is such a friendly person and I really thought he would give us his best. I do not know if he is the only repairman at the company, if he owns it, or if he just works there, but this type of service is unacceptable. And now, after sending them an email to their office email address 4 days ago, I STILL have not been contacted.