Good fridge but some water collects in the bottom from somewhere. Also the handle is nowhere near strong enough. Ours just broke after a few months...

The handle came off the fridge (Hotpoint RLS175)because there is a little plastic insert like a big washer that holds the two screws and allows tyhe handle to pull open but retains the handle to the door. It is rubbish plastic quality and it was hardly surprising that this piece just disintegrated. However, no problem, I have a 5 year deal for free parts - not quite what one might think, however! So, after hanging on about 7 minutes and hanging up because I got no answer and then ringing the parts dept direct as I felt that was less expensive (all being prime numbers of course), I am informed the following. A very friendly parts assistant says "the part is not available as a separate item (we are talking about a fat plastic washer kind of thing) so you will have to buy the whole handle and we have that in stock for immediate despatch so you can have it tomorrow" Naturally, I enquired about the price to which I was informed £52 and so many pence. "What" was my immediate reply to which she said, "well we can do it a little cheaper at £49 if you don't have it expressed to you" I informed her that we actually have this 5 year free parts service to which she informed me....wait for it, sit down and get comfortable " Oh yes, no problem, the part will be free but on that deal, you have to pay for the engineer to come and fit it and that will be £102" I politely declined her kind offer and informed her that being such a small plastic part and something I am sure I could make in metal, I'll think I'll give it a miss. She was very kind and polite and offered to see if she could obtain a discount on the part for me but again, I politely declined this very generous offer. Half an hour later, I had made the part out of a metal (I am good at DIY but not a professional by any stretch of the imagination) and Hey Presto! the part is fitted and the handle works perfectly. To have to buy a whole handle is somewhat of a joke as the parts are separate anyway and to advertise free parts for five years and charge £102 to fit a £52 part which costs Indesit (Hotpoint) almost nothing is even more of a joke. So, buyers beware, don't buy Hotpoint or anything eklse owned by Indesit if the deciding factor is the free 5 year replacement parts service! I am still pleased with my Hotpoint products of which I have many but clearly inspect the design of the model for cheap plastic moving parts like handles, or you might be in for a shock!

Had to buy this model three days before Christmas when old fridge died and we were promised next day delivery on Hotpoint RL 175 - big mistake. FAULTS TO DATE 1. Handle failed within four months 2. Grey plastic shelf supports crack regularly. Shelves need new supports. We are on our third order of supports at £6+ plus postage etc. Fourth set needed 3. Door seal split and failed and now door will not close properly. HOTPOINT SAYS IT NO LONGER SUPPLIES OR MANUFACTURES REPLACEMENT SEAL. Fridge effectively scrap Hotpoint apparently has no interest in the experience or expectations of its customers and no regard for durability of products. We are two in the family and the fridge gets light use. It has the same attitude that killed off most of British industry. You do not watch TV on a Decca, Ferguson or HMV set and in your car you are not overtaken by a Norton or BSA motorcycle. Rubbish quality and indifference to the customer killed these products. Hotpoint deserves to fail too.

Handle has broken twice - Bottom tray very flimsy and now slit the tray supports have snaped on most of the trays and only 18 months old. Be careful if you are thinking about this Fridge!
All in all a very poor product indeed.
Now purchased a new machine and the Hotpoints down the tip!

The Hotpoint RL175 looks very good but we have had a number of problems with the handle. After 8 months the handle snapped and hotpoint replaced it under warranty. At the time we said we felt there was a design fault because it was made of plastic and the fridge door holds a significant amount of weight in it (milk, juice, cheese, eggs etc) and as you are pulling against the seal of what is a large door I didn't think the handle was strong enough. They disagreed. Another 8 months on and the handle has snapped again! Same discussions same disagreement except this time I had to pay for the replacement handle and when it came it was a different colour to the original - when I queried this they said they reserve the right to change the specification when they want. Problem we have is we bought a matching freezer that no longer matches - their answer was to spend another £20 on a handle (new design) for the freezer! Customer service in my opinion is appalling....