Laptop caught fire - Do I have any rights?

gingbeard

My parents bought a laptop what must be close to 1.5 years ago now from a very well know PC outlet. A battery recall was made on the product and the PC outlets tech guys replaced the battery, it has been around a year since that happening, but today their charger caught light, Looking at the battery, it seems like a lesser powered battery was put in, and the lead was never changed. Where do I stand with consumer / statutory right on this? Do the PC outlet have to replace the lead? Or does it have nothing to do with them?

gordikin

Can you calm down, chill, and re-post and we'll be happy to help...your post is confused.

Esqui

It would likely depend on the cause of the fire.

I wouldn't have thought the battery would have been replaced with a lower powered one, or if it was it wouldn't have resulted in this. The Advent/EI System recall affected several thousand people, and there'd have been more instances of this if they'd replaced faulty batteries with more!

But that's not to say that the battery recall had nothing to do with it. First thing is to write to the Customer Services department and tell them what has happened, and what you would like done.

gingbeard

Sorry - I'll explain -

Laptop bought over a year ago, its power lead (the black box) caught light (I suspect this is because they changed the battery to a lesser-powered one without changing the lead). What rights do I have when it come to me complaining to PC world tomorrow. Do they have to replace / refund the laptop?

gingbeard

Esqui wrote: »

It would likely depend on the cause of the fire.

The fire was caused by the black charger box overheating, whilst sat on a brick floor (not under a duvet or anything silly). we tried a second charger in the laptop, but that too died, and just stopped working. Which is why I suspect that it is the laptop, the battery reads 14.4V and the charger reads 20V output.... So something isn't right!

I was thinking of just taking to to PC world tomorrow, what do you think? do I have a leg to stand on?

gingbeard

bump... Sorry, but need to try to get my facts straight for this evening

Esqui

If you take it into a PC World, chances are they will tell you to pay or send you away due to its out-of-warranty-ness. Much better is to contact the central Customer Services centre who have a department specially for things outside the warranty.

gingbeard

Esqui wrote: »

If you take it into a PC World, chances are they will tell you to pay or send you away due to its out-of-warranty-ness. Much better is to contact the central Customer Services centre who have a department specially for things outside the warranty.

Am I not covered by the sale of goods act? As clearly the laptop is not fit for purpose as it sets light to chargers.

bap98189

Which bit caught fire? I am guessing from your post it was the transformer/rectifier - the black bit that actually plugs into the wall. If so, it is unlikely that the laptop battery caused it to catch fire. The output is a low voltage, dc current, which is used to recharge the battery. If the output voltage was too high for the battery, it is likely to damage the battery or the laptop, not the charger.

More likely is that there was a faulty connection inside the charger, or that there was something caught down the back of the plug when you stuck it in the wall.

You could probably get a replacement eventually, but PC World aren't likely to play ball. If you do actually manage to persuade someone to take an interest, the first thing they will likely do is send the laptop and charger away, which means you will be without it for some time. Bearing in mind you can pick up a replacement for about £10, is it worth the hassle?

Esqui

gingbeard wrote: »

Am I not covered by the sale of goods act? As clearly the laptop is not fit for purpose as it sets light to chargers.

Yes....probably. But as I say, the stores are limited in terms of what they can do with things outside the manufacturer's warranty. The main customer service centre is not so limited.

gingbeard

ok, thanks. What is the best way to contact them? Google doesn't really bring up much