SOGA ... tv knackered ... 18 months old

zappster1966

Self explanatory really.

Bought an LG42LF66 tv from Comet for £849 in Oct 2007, all fine until Christmas 2008 when it decides to start playing up. Picture keeps disappearing / black screen but the sound's OK.

Comet aren't interested in repairing it free because it's out of warranty. Only option offered is to have it repaired at my expense "but it could cost several hundred pounds because it sounds like the board is broken" and "maybe it's better just buying a new television because the prices have really come down".

Haha. They must think I'm made of money.

I think a TV of that price should "last" a lot longer than 18 months before giving up the ghost. A friend has suggested getting an engineers report, detailing the fault & how much it'll cost to fix and firing it off to Comet ... and if they decide (in writing) not to contribute to the repair costs or to fix it themselves then just to sue them in the local court because I'm covered by the Sale of Goods Act.

Does that sound about right to you experts ? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

xx

Sol00

I'm no expert, but I think that's the proper way of sorting this. I think it's estimated that TVs should last about 6 years or so.

Colliefrog

A friend has suggested getting an engineers report, detailing the fault & how much it'll cost to fix and firing it off to Currys

I'm pretty sure that this report would have to state that the fault is due to a manufacturers defect for Curry's to be liable? I may be wrong...

I think it's estimated that TVs should last about 6 years or so

This, I know is wrong. Goods are expected to last a reasonable amount of time. In my opinion a £900 TV should last more than 18 months, whereas a £5 probably wouldn't last much more than a year. You have UP TO 6 years to make a claim.

bookworm1363

That's exactly right. But first...

Have Currys said in writing that they won't intervene? If you haven't yet, you need to write to them asking for remedy under SOGA 79, as the TV is not of reasonable quality in terms of durability in relation to its price/brand. Say that you do not appreciate their attempts to dodge their statutory responsabilities.

Warn them that failure to deal with this in a satisfactory manner will result in you issuing a court summons for costs of repair/replacement to the TV + the cost of an engineer report + court fees + statutory interest at 8% and that you will also report them to TS for their failure to comply with SOGA.

Give them 14 days.

If you do have to get a report, make sure the engineer clearly states that in his expert opinion, a TV of this price and age should last considerably more than 18 months.