Laptop died after 15 Months - What can I do?

gazfocus

I bought a Sony laptop for my dad at the beginning of October 2008 and at the beginning of this month, the laptop died. My dad has taken it to Sony and they tried various things and then told him that the motherboard has died. What's more is that because the laptop is 15 months old, they won't repair it under warranty and it will cost my dad £400 to get it repaired.

I know there is something in the sales of goods act that states an item must be fit for purpose for a reasonable amount of time. Would this fall under that catagory? If so, would I need to contact the store I bought it from (Dixons.co.uk) or could I go direct to Sony?

Thanks in advance

neilmcl

You indeed have rights under the SOGA but you need to contact the retailer as your contract is with them, not the manufacturer. You may be required to prove that the item laptop is inherently faulty which may require an engneers report, however you should be abe to recoup this cost once if the fault is proven. Anything in writing from Sony stating that the mobo has died and why may go a long way to supporting that the fault is inherent to manufacture.

The following may help - http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html

gazfocus

Thanks. I have just spoken to Dixons/Currys and without even stating the SOGA, they said they cover the laptop for upto 6 years. They are getting someone from 'out of warranty repairs' to phone me back within 72 hours.

neilmcl

gazfocus wrote: »

Thanks. I have just spoken to Dixons/Currys and without even stating the SOGA, they said they cover the laptop for upto 6 years. They are getting someone from 'out of warranty repairs' to phone me back within 72 hours.

Good for them, maybe the message is finally getting through.

gazfocus

I had a phone call from Dixons Customer Resolutions today asking me to take the laptop to PC World for them to confirm the issue. They said that once I've done that, they will decide whether to repair it or offer a 'contribution towards a replacement'.

I asked them how do they calculate a 'contribution towards a replacement' and they said that it's usually a fixed amount for repair (which didn't really make sense).

My concern is that this laptop cost £800 when I bought it and even today, a similarly spec'd Sony laptop at PC World is £730 (more ram, bigger hard drive) but everything else is the same.

So what are my rights if they offer me say £400 which will not get me an equivilent spec'd machine?

Esqui

They are within their rights to offer you a partial refund, taking into account the use you've had. If they were to offer you £400 though, I'd be pretty miffed.

gazfocus

Esqui wrote: »

They are within their rights to offer you a partial refund, taking into account the use you've had. If they were to offer you £400 though, I'd be pretty miffed.

I agree that they are within their rights to offer me a partial refund, but surely I shouldn't be left with a laptop of a lower spec than the original one I bought?

Esqui

How so? You wouldn't have any laptop.

gazfocus

Esqui wrote: »

How so? You wouldn't have any laptop.

I'm not with you - I paid £800 for a laptop with certain specs. The laptop has developed a fault which by law, Dixons is responsible for. Why should I be left with a laptop of a lower spec than the one I paid for?

neilmcl

gazfocus wrote: »

I'm not with you - I paid £800 for a laptop with certain specs. The laptop has developed a fault which by law, Dixons is responsible for. Why should I be left with a laptop of a lower spec than the one I paid for?

We're not with you. WHo said anything about a lower spec. machine? What they are saying is they will either repair or give you a partial refund from which you can choose to buy another laptop of your choice.

gazfocus

neilmcl wrote: »

We're not with you. WHo said anything about a lower spec. machine? What they are saying is they will either repair or give you a partial refund from which you can choose to buy another laptop of your choice.

Yes, but if the 'partial refund' isn't enough to buy an equivelant spec machine, then I will end up with a lower spec machine.