California

Lemon Grove Woman's Washing Machine Broken Since Day She Bought It

Seven months later, after eight repair attempts and months of going to the laundromat, Charlene said she didn’t want the machine repaired, she wanted it replaced.

Last year, Charlene Viereck decided it was time to go shopping. 

“The washer was probably ten years old and there wasn’t anything wrong with it, I just didn’t like it,” she said. 

So, Charlene picked up a new Whirlpool washing machine that came with installation but a week after it was installed, she said, something wasn’t right.

“The second time I used it, it filled and filled 215 times,” Charlene said. “I stood there and counted them because I knew something was wrong.” 

Charlene said the machine would never enter a washing cycle, it would only fill up with water. She called the repair service for Whirlpool and repair service employees came out eight times to attempt to fix the washer. 

Every time, Charlene said the repair service employees would replace a new part, say it would solve the problem but the washer still wouldn’t work. 

Charlene said she felt like she was being hung out to dry. 

“I haven’t had a washing machine that washed since, and that was early August,” she said. 

Seven months later, after eight repair attempts and months of going to the laundromat, Charlene said she didn’t want the machine repaired, she wanted it replaced. 

“It’s a Lemon Grove-lemon, I think I’m going to take it out to the street and paint it yellow,” Charlene said, referring to the broken-down washing machine. 

After learning of Charlene’s problem, NBC 7 Responds reached out to Whirlpool’s corporate office and within a couple days, Whirlpool offered to give Charlene a cash refund for the washing machine. 

A Whirlpool spokesperson said they called Charlene and personally apologized for the inconvenience and aggravation she experienced. 

In California, there are lemon laws that apply to appliances. To read more about these laws and other stories NBC 7 Responds has done on lemon-appliances, click here

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