Hard Drive Warranty - PC World being $%&*($!!!

hieveryone

Hi everyone,

Hopefully somewhere here can give me a bit of a hand in this situation I am in!

Background - bought laptop from PC World (I know, I know, shoot me!) but anyway, was an HP laptop, NOT cheap (£700!) This was in MARCH 2007.

Obviously the one year warranty has now ran out, but my hard drive has failed.

Took laptop to local repairman who very nicely told me that the hard drive that is in my laptop is covered by a manufacturers 5 year warranty.

When I put my serial number and model number into the manufacturers website (Seagate) it says, 'return to place of purchase'. The local repair man also spoke to them on the phone and they said the same.

As you may have guessed, PC World are taking nothing to do with it - any ideas if I am covered for anything here or what I could do?


Thanks

geewhiz

Either go back to PC World and shout at them or contact HP, they bought the drive initially from Seagate so should take some responsibility.

hieveryone

Thanks,

May try phoning HP but their contact number is £1 a minute!

Fifer

HP bought the drive from the manufacturer, so benefit from the manufacturer's warranty (although company purchases probably don't carry the same warranty as retail sales anyway). If HP have passed on the five year warranty to you, it should be stated in the documentation you recieved with the laptop. If it doesn't, then you don't have a five year manufacturer's warranty I'm afraid.

Howver, you do have rights under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) which states that goods sold must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. I think it's reasonable to assume that a hard drive which the manufacturer warrants for five years when sold on its own, should last longer than 20 months. Go back to PC World and state that the laptop is not fir for purpose under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) and see what they say.

Note that it is the seller, not the manufacturer who your statutory rights apply to so don't let them fob you off to HP.

hieveryone

Thanks Fifer,

Speaking to HP at the moment, they are adament that the computer is only covered for 1 year?

Am I unreasonable to think that a laptop that cost £700 should last longer than 20 months??

hieveryone

Have fired off an email to PC World customer services mentioning the sale of goods act, hopefully this will spur them into some sort of action.

Who regulates the Sale of Goods Act (i.e like FSA regulating banks etc) - so if PC World write back saying no, then who do I contact after that?

I really don't think I am being unreasonable - the laptop is used for my uni work - essays and presentations, and cost £700 in March 2007.

sparky7

If you brought the hard drive direct from the manufacture you would get 5 years, however if you buy it through HP (or OEM parts as they're referred to) then you would only get the HP laptop 1 year warranty on the drive.

What model is it?

Laptop hard drives are cheap these days, buy one off ebuyer.co.uk / insight.uk.com for £20-30.

The HP drives are usually easy to replace. Let me know if you need help... but good luck going through the sale of goods act if you do..

superscaper

hieveryone wrote: »

Who regulates the Sale of Goods Act (i.e like FSA regulating banks etc) - so if PC World write back saying no, then who do I contact after that?

The citezen's advice bureau or consumer direct. Ultimately in terms of actually forcing them and enforcing the act, it is down to you taking them to small claims court over it.

hieveryone

Thanks everyone. PC World have written back to me stating that I need to send in my receipt and an engineers report on my laptop, and 'if my claim is successful' they will reimburse me for the cost.

So here's hoping!

Conor_3

I'd have just sent the drive back to Seagate. Done it a few times in the past.