The Repair Centre East London

****mers

one local consumer (me) recently discovered after paying R650 for a stove repair that never happened. The customer, who prefers to remain unnamed, contacted a well-known appliance repair company to fix a faulty stove. Before booking the service, they provided the company with detailed information, including the exact model and serial number of the appliance, as well as clear photographs of the unit. After reviewing the details, the company confirmed that a technician could be dispatched — but only after the customer paid a R650 call-out fee. The customer was told that this amount would later be deducted from the repair cost. “I questioned the high fee,” the customer explained, “but they assured me it was standard procedure and that it would go toward the repair.” Payment was made, and a technician was duly sent out. But when he arrived, the experience quickly soured. According to the customer, the technician showed up without tools, parts, or any equipment, spent less than two minutes looking at the stove, and then delivered a shock: the model is outdated and parts are no longer available. “I was stunned,” the customer said. “They had the serial number, model number, and photos before taking my money. They could have told me from the start that they couldn’t help, they knew that parts aren't available " The customer has since requested a refund of the R650, describing the experience as “a costly lesson” and a warning to others. “People need to be awake — even big companies can take you for a ride,” they said. “Always double-check that a service provider can actually repair your specific model before paying anything upfront.”