# Dishwasher repairs by non authorized techs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975 "2011-12-21T18:24:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/1 "2011-12-21T18:24:55Z")
I have a Miele dishwasher that needs some repairs. My home warranty company found a repair tech, but I called the manufacturer and they said he is not authorized by them to work on Miele products. Now, this is a high end dishwasher. Can a non-authorized tech really fix it? Am I being obstinate in insisting the person they send be specifically authorized on this brand? Or is it just a dishwasher that any tech can fix, and I should shut up and let the warranty folks send them over? I know zilch about appliance repairs. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/2 "2011-12-21T19:22:35Z")
Of course he might fix it. He might also ruin it. Depends how good he is. However, the only reason the company would care is if the unit is still under warranty - then having an unauthorized tech mess with it would void your warranty. This means that if in the end you decide to go back to an authorized tech to get it fixed, you would have to pay the full costs of all repairs - time and materials. But… this is the definition of a repair when out of warranty anyway. If the guy knows his stuff, but has not done that manufacturer’s specific training classes (or has not kept up his designantion) he would probably do a decent job as long as th technology is not greatly different. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/3 "2011-12-21T20:08:29Z")
Yeah we are out of warranty. I’m just afraid someone who isn’t a specialist in that brand might go cheap and screw it up. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/4 "2011-12-21T20:22:11Z")
It’s a dishwasher- how complicated could it be? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/5 "2011-12-21T20:25:08Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s a dishwasher- how complicated could it be? If the problem is with a hose or a pump, probably not much. But if the problem is with the circuit board, it could be a different story. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/6 "2011-12-21T20:26:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s a dishwasher- how complicated could it be? It’s a dishwasher that costs twice as much and works three times as well as any other dishwasher I’ve owned. Clearly they’re doing SOMETHING different. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/7 "2011-12-21T20:56:11Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > If the problem is with a hose or a pump, probably not much. But if the problem is with the circuit board, it could be a different story. Yeah, but I doubt that even authorized repairmen do anything more complicated than replace a defective board. If the un-authorized guy has access to replacement parts, he can fix it just as well. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/8 "2011-12-21T22:04:01Z")
Ok thanks ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/9 "2011-12-22T05:49:29Z")
Also, the unauthorized repairman may have access to a copy of the official maintenance and repair manual. I assume if their product is that good, so are the support processes and documents. if the place that recommends this guy think he’s good, could be that he is. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishwasher-repairs-by-non-authorized-techs/606975/10 "2011-12-22T06:16:06Z")
Place that recommended repair shop is home warranty company. They prefer cheap over good.