Appliance repair in 2026: get these 9 facts in writing

When a washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator fails, it is tempting to decide on a single number: the repair price. The real question is broader. What exactly failed, what will be replaced, how long will the work take, what happens if the diagnosis reveals another cost, and is a loan appliance available? Hungarian rules that took effect in 2026 provide a more structured framework for those questions.

The main provisions of Government Decree 114/2026 (VII. 23.) have applied since 31 August 2026. The rules distinguish two situations. If the defect falls within the seller's statutory liability for lack of conformity, choosing repair extends the two-year liability period once by 12 months. If the case is outside that liability, manufacturers must still offer repair for certain products covered by EU repairability requirements, within a reasonable time and either free of charge or for a reasonable price.

This does not mean that every fault in every appliance must automatically be repaired for free. The product category, cause of the fault, purchase date and technical feasibility all matter. Ask for a document before authorising the work.

The European Repair Information Form: useful, but not a mandatory magic phrase

A repairer may satisfy its pre-contract information duties by providing the standard European Repair Information Form. Use of the form is voluntary: a repair business may provide the required information lawfully in another format. If it completes and supplies the form, however, it undertakes to perform the repair on the stated terms if the consumer accepts within the validity period.

After a consumer asks for the repair terms, the form must be supplied before the repair contract is concluded, free of charge and on a durable medium. A repairer may charge a cost-based diagnostic fee needed to identify the fault, type of repair and expected price, but it must disclose that fee before providing the form.

Ask for these 9 facts in writing

1. Identifiable repair-business details

Obtain the official business name, address, telephone number and email. A social-media profile or nickname is not enough if you later need to trace the commitment, invoice or complaint.

2. Precise identification of the appliance

“Washing machine” is not enough. Provide the brand, full model number, serial number where possible, and a photo of the rating plate. Appliances that look identical may use different parts or controls.

3. The fault and proposed repair

Ask for a short description of the fault and the planned intervention. “Repair required” is not the same as replacing a pump, sealing a connection or repairing an electronic board at component level.

4. Total price, or calculation method and ceiling

If the final amount is known, it should be stated clearly. If not, the calculation method for labour, call-out, parts, diagnostics and every other cost element should be explained, together with a maximum repair price. Discovering another fault should not become unlimited authorisation.

5. Committed completion time

Do not ask only when work will start. Record the promised completion time in days or as a specific date. If a part must be ordered, ask what happens if supply is delayed.

6. Loan appliance and its cost

In a busy household, losing a washer or refrigerator quickly becomes an operational problem. The form indicates whether a temporary replacement is available and what it costs. A manufacturer may lend a replacement during repair, but this can be free or reasonably priced.

7. Handover location

Record whether the appliance is handed over at home, at a collection point or at the workshop. For a large appliance, this determines whether disconnection, stair handling or separate transport is needed.

8. Related services and their fees

Removal, reinstallation, transport, disposal of old parts or recommissioning may not be included in the base price. Each service and cost should be visible separately.

9. Validity of the offer

The European Repair Information Form is valid for at least 30 days, and the repairer may not change its terms during that period. The parties can agree on a longer period. Do not leave the date blank.

What else should you check before deciding?

Ask about the diagnostic fee in advance

Diagnostics are not necessarily free. Ask what it costs if you decline the repair, and whether the fee is credited if you order the work. Record whether inspection alone counts as authorisation to repair.

Look for the manufacturer's indicative repair price

For a product covered by repairability requirements, the manufacturer or the responsible substitute must publish an indicative price for typical repair on a freely accessible website. It is not a fixed price for every fault, but it can be a useful benchmark.

Compare at least two like-for-like offers

Send the same fault description, model number and requested service. One quote may include transport and reinstallation; another may cover workshop labour only. Compare the full scope, not just the total.

Do not accept an automatic “warranty void” claim without reasons

Under the decree, a manufacturer cannot refuse its repair obligation solely because someone else repaired the product earlier. An independent repairer may use appropriate original, used, compatible or 3D-printed parts while respecting product-safety and intellectual-property rules. This does not excuse damage caused by poor workmanship, but a blanket refusal without explanation is not enough.

Include the full cost of replacement

Do not compare the repair quote only with the promotional price of a new appliance. Replacement may add delivery, installation, dimensional or connection changes and removal of the old product. For repair, consider expected remaining life, energy use and whether another ageing major component creates a near-term risk.

One-minute service checklist

• Have I photographed the rating plate and described when the fault occurs?
• Do I know whether this is a statutory lack-of-conformity case or an out-of-warranty repair?
• Was the diagnostic fee disclosed in advance?
• Do I have the fault, proposed repair and total or maximum price in writing?
• Are the completion time, handover location and related costs recorded?
• Is a loan appliance available?
• Will the offer remain unchanged for at least 30 days?
• Have I compared the manufacturer's indicative price and another like-for-like quote?
• Have I saved the form, correspondence, job sheet and, later, the invoice?

The 2026 rules do not make every repair simple or cheap. They help make the decision evidence-based. A precise written offer is not paperwork for its own sake: it separates a calculable repair from an open-ended cost.