Frequently asked questions

Yes, same-day call-outs are available across our coverage area, and next day is our standard turnaround. Same-day slots are limited and depend on how the day's route is already filled, so the earlier you call the better your chances. Ring 07849 033758 first thing in the morning if you need someone out today, or book online and we will confirm the earliest slot we can genuinely hold.

Most customers are seen the next working day, and same-day visits are often possible if you call early. Cambridge, Bedford and the larger Hertfordshire towns tend to have the most availability because we route vans through them daily. Outlying villages may occasionally roll to the following day so we can group jobs sensibly and keep the call-out fee at a flat rate rather than charging mileage.

You can book by phone on 07849 033758, by email at info@appliancekings.co.uk, or through the booking form on this website. We will ask for the appliance type, the make and model number, a short description of the fault and any error code showing on the display. That information lets the engineer load likely spares onto the van before setting off, which is the single biggest factor in getting a first-time fix.

We work in morning and afternoon arrival windows rather than vague all-day slots. You will get a window when you book and a call or message from the engineer when they are on their way, so you are not stuck waiting in all day. If you need a specific time because of school runs, work or a tenant's availability, tell us when booking and we will do our best to build the route around it.

Standard weekday visits are the £90 call-out, and out-of-hours or weekend attendance is priced and agreed on the phone before we set off. We would always rather tell you the cost on the phone than surprise you at the door. If your fault can safely wait until the next working day, we will say so and save you the difference.

Clear access to the appliance, make sure someone over 18 is home, and have the model number handy if you can find it. For washing machines and dishwashers it helps enormously if the drum or basket is empty and any standing water has been bailed out. If the appliance is integrated or built under a worktop, let us know at the point of booking so we can allow extra time for removal and refitting.

Yes, we regularly attend properties where the owner is not present, provided a responsible adult over 18 is there to give access. We can liaise directly with your tenant to arrange the appointment and report back to you afterwards. We do not accept key-safe or unattended access arrangements, because someone needs to be on site to confirm the fault and authorise the work.

It is £90, and that one figure covers the visit, a full diagnosis and the labour on the repair. Parts are charged on top and always quoted for your approval before we fit them. There is no hourly rate and no separate diagnosis fee, so a job that turns out to be fiddly costs you the same as one that doesn't. If you decide not to go ahead, the £90 is all you pay.

No. The £90 call-out covers the visit, the diagnosis and the labour as one charge, so there is nothing extra added for working out what is wrong. The only thing on top is the part, and you see that price before we fit it. We are explicit about it because too many local firms quote a low call-out and then add labour on top once they are through the door.

No, we do not charge hourly rates for repairs. Labour is included in the £90 call-out, so a fiddly repair that takes twice as long does not cost you twice as much. That protects you from the classic problem of watching the clock while an engineer struggles with a stubborn bearing housing. The only variable is the part, which is quoted for your approval before fitting.

If we cannot repair it, you pay the £90 call-out and nothing more. We will tell you plainly why it is not economical or not possible, whether that is a discontinued part, a cracked outer drum or a control board that costs more than the machine is worth. You will also get an honest steer on whether a replacement or a second opinion is the better use of your money.

Yes, you always get a firm price before any repair work begins. Once the engineer has diagnosed the fault, they will give you the total — the £90 call-out plus the part, VAT included where it applies — and you decide there and then whether to proceed. Nothing is ordered, fitted or charged without your say-so.

We accept card payments in the van, bank transfer and cash. Payment is taken on completion of the repair, not up front, and you will receive a written invoice by email for your records. Landlords, letting agents and account customers can be invoiced on agreed terms rather than paying at the door.

Any price we quote you is the price you pay, with VAT already included where it applies. We will never add a percentage at the end that was not mentioned when you agreed the work. If you need a VAT breakdown for business or landlord accounting, ask and we will itemise it on the invoice.

Six months on both the part we fitted and the labour of fitting it, subject to our terms and conditions. The distinction that matters is parts *and* labour: some firms cover the component but only give you a few weeks on the workmanship, which quietly leaves you exposed. We back the whole repair, so if the same fault returns within six months we come back and put it right at no charge.

It covers the part we fitted and the labour involved in fitting it for six months from the date of the repair, subject to our terms and conditions. If that component fails or the original fault reappears, we return, re-diagnose and resolve it with no call-out fee and no labour charge. It does not cover a brand-new unrelated fault elsewhere in the machine, accidental damage or misuse.

Yes, our vans carry a wide range of common spares so we can attempt a first-time fix on the same visit. That typically includes pumps, heaters, elements, thermostats, door seals, hinges, belts, valves, brushes and thermal cut-outs for the most common makes we see locally. Where a part is model-specific or unusual, we order it and return to fit it, usually within a few working days.

We use genuine manufacturer parts wherever they are available and sensibly priced, and high-quality equivalents where they are not. Some manufacturers have discontinued spares or price them unreasonably, and a good-quality alternative is often the difference between a working machine and a landfill run. Whatever we fit is covered by the same 6-month guarantee and we will tell you which route we are taking before you agree the quote.

We order it the same day where possible and book your return visit as soon as the delivery date is confirmed. Most parts arrive within a few working days. You pay nothing extra for the second visit, because there is no further call-out charge when a part has to be ordered in.

Call 07849 033758 or email info@appliancekings.co.uk with your invoice number and a description of what the appliance is doing. We will book you in as a priority, attend, and if the fault falls within the guarantee there is nothing to pay. Keep your invoice email, as it is the simplest proof of the repair date and the part fitted.

No, we work on domestic appliances only and do not repair commercial machines. That means we do not attend launderette equipment, commercial catering ovens, industrial dishwashers or coin-operated machines, even where they are installed in a residential building. If you are unsure whether your machine counts as domestic, send us the model number and we will tell you honestly before you book.

We repair washing machines, tumble dryers, washer dryers, dishwashers, ovens, cookers, hobs, range cookers, fridges, freezers, fridge freezers, American fridge freezers, microwaves, extractor hoods and wine coolers. Both freestanding and integrated units are covered, including built-under and column installations. If your appliance is not on the list, ask, because we would rather check than turn you away.

Yes, integrated and built-in appliances are a large part of our daily work. We will remove the unit from its housing, carry out the repair and refit it properly, including realigning the decor door so it sits square. Please mention at booking that the appliance is integrated, as these jobs need a longer slot.

Any gas appliance work is carried out by, or referred to, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We can diagnose electrical faults on a dual-fuel range, such as an electric oven element or fan in a gas-hob cooker, but the gas side must be handled by someone on the Gas Safe register. We will always tell you clearly which part of the job we can do and which needs a Gas Safe engineer.

We work on all the mainstream domestic brands sold in the UK, including Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Miele, Samsung, LG, Beko, Hotpoint, Indesit, Whirlpool, Zanussi, AEG, Electrolux, Candy, Hoover, Smeg, Rangemaster and many more. Availability of spares varies by brand and by age of machine, which is something we will flag at diagnosis. Premium and older European brands are usually well supported for parts, which often makes repair the sensible choice.

If your appliance is still in manufacturer warranty, contact the manufacturer first, because a third-party repair can invalidate that cover. We are happy to talk you through the symptoms on the phone so you know what to tell them. If the warranty has expired, or the manufacturer's own wait time is weeks long, we can usually be with you far sooner.

Yes, we sell domestic appliances alongside our repair service. That means if your machine turns out to be beyond economical repair, you are not left stranded with a broken appliance and no plan. We can advise on a suitable replacement for your space, your household size and the hard water in this area, then supply and install it.

Yes, installation can be arranged as part of the sale. That includes connecting a washing machine or dishwasher to existing services, levelling the machine properly and testing it on a short cycle before we leave. Integrated installations and any work requiring new plumbing or electrics are quoted separately because they take considerably longer.

Yes, we can remove and responsibly dispose of your old appliance for a small charge when we deliver a replacement. Old appliances are handled through the correct WEEE recycling route rather than dumped. Fridges, freezers and any unit containing refrigerant gas must go through a specialist stream, which is why disposal of those carries a slightly higher fee.

As a rule of thumb, if the repair costs more than half the price of an equivalent new machine and the appliance is past its typical service life, replacement is usually the better call. Our engineer will give you the part price on top of the £90 call-out, plus an honest view of the machine's remaining life, so you can decide with real numbers in front of you. We would rather tell you to replace it than take your money for a repair that will not last.

Yes, appliances we supply come with a guarantee, and the exact term is confirmed in writing before you buy. Any installation work we carry out is covered by our own 6-month labour guarantee. Keep your invoice, as it is the simplest record of the purchase date should you ever need to claim.

It is a monthly or annual subscription that covers scheduled servicing and priority support for your appliances, spreading the cost of upkeep instead of paying for crises. Our plans include an annual health check, descaling appropriate to the very hard water in this region, priority booking and no call-out fee on covered appliances. They are designed to prevent the failures that hard water and neglected filters cause locally, rather than to insure you against every possible breakdown.

No, a maintenance plan is a servicing and priority-support agreement, not an insurance policy. It covers planned preventative work, inspections and discounted parts rather than promising to pay for any and all breakdowns. We are deliberately clear about that, because the appliance cover market is full of policies whose exclusions are only discovered at claim time.

Yes, monthly plans can be cancelled with 30 days' notice at any time. Annual plans run for the 12 months you have paid for, and you are simply free not to renew. There are no exit penalties and no automatic price escalations hidden in the terms.

For a single appliance it is usually only worth it if that appliance is heavily used or living in very hard water, such as a daily-use washing machine or dishwasher in Cambridge or Hertfordshire. Households with three or more appliances get the clearest value, because the annual service and priority booking apply across all of them. We will tell you honestly if we think you are better off just paying per repair.

Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and north Hertfordshire. That includes Cambridge, Ely, St Ives, St Neots, Huntingdon, Cambourne, Sawston, Bedford, Kempston, Ampthill, Flitwick, Royston, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage, Hertford, Ware, Bishop's Stortford and the villages around all of them. If you are on the edge of that area, call and ask — we can often help.

No, the £90 call-out is a flat fee across our whole coverage area with no mileage surcharge. Rural addresses may occasionally be offered the following day rather than the same day so we can route sensibly. We would rather group jobs efficiently than pass travel costs on to the customer.

We cover Cambridge city centre and its residential streets, including the terraced housing off Mill Road and the newer developments at Eddington and around CB1. Please note we repair domestic appliances only, so college and institutional catering equipment falls outside what we do. Parking and access can be tricky in the centre, so let us know about permits, bollards or narrow stairs when you book.

The north and east of the county rather than all of it. Royston, Baldock, Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Hertford, Ware, Hoddesdon, Cheshunt, Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth, Berkhamsted, Harpenden and Bishop's Stortford are all on our regular routes. We do not cover the south-west of the county — Watford, Rickmansworth, Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Tring are outside our area, as are St Albans and Hemel Hempstead. The part we do cover sits in a very hard water belt, which is a large part of why we are there so often.

Yes, landlords, letting agents and HMO operators are a significant part of our customer base. We can arrange access directly with tenants, attend without the landlord present, and invoice you rather than taking payment at the door. Portfolio accounts get consolidated invoicing and priority scheduling.

Yes, with your authorisation we contact the tenant, agree a time that suits them and keep you updated at each stage. That removes the endless three-way phone tag that eats a landlord's evening. We report back with the diagnosis, the cost and a recommendation so you can approve the work in one message.

Yes, we invoice the account holder, which for rental properties is normally the landlord or the managing agent. Tenants are never asked to pay at the door unless you have specifically arranged that with us in advance. Invoices are itemised by property address, which makes them easy to allocate across a portfolio.

Yes, and we plan for it, because the Cambridge student and professional lets largely turn over within the same few weeks. Tell us your changeover dates in advance and we will block time to check, service or repair appliances between tenancies. Booking ahead of the rush is far more reliable than trying to find an engineer in the last week of the void.

PAT testing is launching soon at Appliance Kings and you can register your interest now. We are setting the service up primarily for landlords, HMO operators, holiday lets, childminders, charities and small businesses in our coverage area. Email info@appliancekings.co.uk or call 07849 033758 and we will contact you as soon as booking opens.

There is no law that says you must PAT test, but there is a legal duty to keep electrical equipment maintained so that it does not cause danger. That duty comes from the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, with further obligations for landlords and employers under related legislation. Inspection and testing is simply the most widely accepted way of demonstrating you have met that duty, which is why insurers and letting agents ask for it.

Frequency depends on the risk, the environment and the type of equipment rather than a fixed legal interval. In practice, many landlords and HMO operators test at the start of each tenancy or annually, while low-risk office equipment may be inspected far less often. When our service launches we will help you set a sensible schedule instead of selling you unnecessary annual testing on everything.