Just thought I'd put an update of where I have got to with this, maybe it will be useful to somebody sometime.
Hotpoint/Indesit have now sent out the same engineer twice.
His opinion is that the noises are normal, but he admitted to having no knowledge of its specified noise (44dBA).
As a consequence of this I recorded the noises and took sound level readings with an app on my phone.
This showed peak noises of 95dBA when it pops -- 3 or 4 times within a short time at the start of every cycle,
a loud chuntering at 60-65 dBA lasting about 45 seconds in each cycle,
and the continuous whirring and popping noises at 48-52 dBA,
average noise level over 4 mins of 58dBA. So it is never within spec.
I emailed charts of the noise levels to Currys, together with a sound recording.
As a result of this they arranged the second visit
(which they said was a fire call-out whatever that is) but it was a complete waste of time
because the engineer was an hour late and did absolutely nothing.
I have now sent Currys a pre-action letter, saying that I will commence proceedings on 19th November
unless they accept my claim or reject it giving their reasons.
I have had no response from Currys, but Hotpoint/Indesit have been in touch wanting to send a senior engineer.
I have asked them what this senior engineer is proposing to do
-- because I don't want to wait in for another wasted visit, and they are currently ruminating on that.
The position I am taking with Hotpoint/Indesit is that my contract is with Currys,
and I have submitted documentation that proves the machine is faulty.
Currys should resolve my claim and then take it up with Hotpoint.
What I really want is to speak to the individual who is handling my claim at Currys,
and who has the authority to settle it.
But they haven't responded and the local store won't give me any direct contact details.
If anyone has any suggestions about the technicalities of pursuing my claim through the Small Claims procedure
that would be helpful.
I've read the Department of Justice Guidelines, and it looks straightforward;
but I don't want to jeopardise my claim (if it has to go that route) by being intransigent;
but I do want to pressure them to resolve it now.
I am frustrated because I really don't think that any of the people who have contacted me
have seen any of the evidence I have produced, and I feel that Currys should respond to the evidence
in a considered and professional way,
not just wheel out some standard procedure which seems to be designed to drag things out
and delay/postpone rather than resolve.