Dave,
the bearings can be changed and cost about £10/- from RHP bearing or other stockists.
The chap from power gouse wants you to buy another machine and no doubt sell you extended warranty as well.
Hotpoint were fined some time ago for fitting a breakdown chip in their machines.
On the other hand you could dump your washing machine and create some more landfill for our kids to play in.
Sam
December 2005
Dave, it is not worth doing, junk it. It is quite a job even for an engineer.
howtomendit.com for free repair help, information and advice.
Try fixfault.com to fix washing machines.