How to Cope When Hit with an Unexpected Repair Bill

Even the best household appliances run into difficulties every once in a while. A part fails because it was faulty or simply through wear and tear over time. The bill for parts and labor can end up being more expensive than you might sometimes expect. Then you have to scramble to find the money to pay for it. Trust me; it isn't fun at all.

We've had our air conditioner break down in the middle of summer. IN TEXAS HEAT! It's either find a way to pay for it or sweat to death. We found a way to get it fixed ASAP.

It’s also important to find a good maintenance specialist. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay more than once if the first repair is shoddy.

Get a Good Appliance Repairman

When you need an affordable, quality repair done on a household appliance, you don’t want to have to pay twice because it wasn’t done right the first time.

Dealing with Zanussi repairs, for instance, you must make sure that the parts used for replacement are official Zanussi ones and not copies or alternative parts from other manufacturers that may not work inside their appliances.

Also, check how much experience the appliance repairers have. You don’t want to discover that they’ve only been in business for 18 months or aren’t authorized repairers for the brand of appliance that you own.

Check If Your Warranty Has Expired

If you purchase your household appliance new, you will have been given a reliable warranty from the manufacturer. These run for different lengths of time.

Did you purchase an extended warranty too? Check your paperwork for the machine to see what your coverage is and when it runs out.

If you’re able to submit a claim under warranty and you found that it covers the problem that has arisen, then you’ve gotten lucky and saved yourself from a repair bill.

If the warranty has already expired, then you must look at raising money to pay for the repair.

Although, if you're lucky, your home warranty might cover it. If you don't have a home warranty then it's always worth looking for providers in your area, as this means they will be able to call out local contractors to diagnose and address the problem you're experiencing.

First American, for example, has operated in many states around the country, including Colorado, Florida, Indiana, and more, for over three decades, so you can be sure to get a warranty in your region to suit your needs with this company.

What Money Do You Have?

Check any savings accounts that you have. Balances and interest might have accrued without you knowing about it. See if there’s anything extra in your bank account too.

Do you have any spare change that you’ve been saving up?

Beyond that, do you have money that you’ve lent out to a friend or relative that you can ask to be returned to help pay for your appliance repair?

You can certainly explain the circumstances, and your family member or friend is more likely to be willing to pay you back ASAP.

Other Financial Options

If you don’t have enough cash on hand or savings, then it’s time to consider using your credit card.

Another option is to use an existing overdraft option with your bank or credit accounts. If you are in good standing, then perhaps applying for an overdraft limit will allow you to cover the bill.

However, if you’re really in dire straits, then using the services of a pawn shop can allow you to temporarily trade in valuable goods for 2-3 weeks to get a cash amount to help get the appliance repaired. Then use money from your next salary to repay the amount and fees to get your stuff back.

Bear in mind that if you fail to repay the balance owed, the shop will permanently keep your goods. It’s not an ideal situation, but when you really need to get your appliance fixed, you need to think outside the box too!

It’s always a good idea to explore all options when you have a critical appliance out of warranty that you must get repaired quickly.

There’s a surprising number of other ways to deal with an upcoming bill – even doing some part-time work in the evenings or weekends for extra cash and/or getting a salary advance – can help resolve the matter quickly.

How have you dealt with an unexpected repair bill in the past?