Courier lost my laptop (DPD)

duggie1982

Hi

Just found out the DPA lost my laptop that was to be returned after a so called repair from the Tech Guys.

Anyway on Wednesday DPD tried to deliver but I was out as did not know that the tech guys sent the laptop back. Went into the delivery office yesterday to be told "We have lost your parcel, do you want to speak to my manager" I was like, yes, why not lol.

So manager said to contact tech guys and get them to start the claim and not to worry as i will get a new laptop.

My question is. Do you think DPD will cover costs of software and my hardware upgrades on this laptop or just give me the original value back on this. I know im meant to back up software as the tech guys said they are not responible for software deleted etc but is DPD? And also what about personal data thats on there cause someone might have stole it an use the data? What rights do I have?

The reason I ask is my mother claimed her insurance last year as her laptop was broken and the insurance gave her a new one with all the same software installed that they told the insurance company that the old one had.

Thanks for reading!!

DrScotsman

How much software did you install on it that cannot be reinstalled by means of CDs or redownloading?

I'm fairly certain they'd be responsible for the full value of the laptop including hardware upgrades (EDIT: The cost of replacing that is, not necessarily a new laptop - that would be betterment). Hypothetically speaking, if your contract was with DPD then they might be responsible for any irrecoverable software. However your contract is with these tech dudes, and "Backup everything" is probably a legally enforceable term. But I'm not sure, wait for other people to reply.

duggie1982

Thanks. Most software I should be able to reinstall but takes time. The hardware is a graphics card but not sure if still have the reciept. The tech guys said it will be through dpd insurance. The laptop was £429 about 9 months ago. The fact it was tech guys or even could have been a friend returning the laptop its going to be the time and hasle of finding & reinstalling the software that might cause the problems. Hopefully they might still find the laptop.

Also was never told to back up or signed anything when they picked up the laptop. I know I am meant to but probably 90% off people dont lol. I have backed up docs, photo's etc but not software.

DrScotsman

duggie1982 wrote: »

The tech guys said it will be through dpd insurance.

Like a rogue or uneducated eBay seller, they are trying to fool you into thinking that their legal responsibility to you is 100% tied in to DPD's legal responsibility to them. It's not - it could be more, it could be less.

duggie1982 wrote: »

Thanks. Most software I should be able to reinstall but takes time.

...

The laptop was £429 about 9 months ago. The fact it was tech guys or even could have been a friend returning the laptop its going to be the time and hasle of finding & reinstalling the software that might cause the problems. Hopefully they might still find the laptop.

I doubt the inconvenience of reinstalling the software counts enough to be relevant to be honest. Much like how when an insurer offers you a value for your written off car, the inconvenience of having to buy a new one never really comes into the equation.

I don't know how much software you have but I've never found it much of a daunting task.

Also was never told to back up or signed anything when they picked up the laptop. I know I am meant to but probably 90% off people dont lol. I have backed up docs, photo's etc but not software.

The question is - does ANY part of the contract (terms and conditions, verbal, etc.) that you agreed to stipulate that they're not responsible for lost data? If not, then they are probably responsible.

By the way, you keep referring to backing up your software. As a rule you CAN'T backup already-installed software (unless you backup pretty much the whole Windows install). You certainly can't just copy it from the Program Files folder, put it back in on a clean install and expect it to work. You should always have the installer accessible, whether on a CD, backed up, or expected to be available on the internet.

duggie1982

Thanks for your reply.

I do havea lot of software and have got back ups of most of it (installers) When I format my computer every 3 months or so, it takes a good few hours to install everything again, about 4-5 hours.

I will see what they say on Monday about it.

gaming_guy

.............

Jakg

duggie1982 wrote: »

Thanks. Most software I should be able to reinstall but takes time. The hardware is a graphics card but not sure if still have the reciept.

Are you sure you put a new graphics card in a laptop?

Very very few laptops have upgradeable GPU's, and I can't think of any around the £429 price point...

xocbc

Re data, the contracts do specify that the user is soley responsible for it and should take a backup, it was pretty clear when I used to work for the Tech Guys many years ago

xocbc

Jakg wrote: »

Are you sure you put a new graphics card in a laptop?

Very very few laptops have upgradeable GPU's, and I can't think of any around the £429 price point...

Yes I wondered that too, unlikely to be able to upgrade a laptop graphics card...

duggie1982

Yes got PC World to upgrade the graphic card shortly after I bought it, thats why I sent it away as it was over heating

I always mean to do get image software but always forget.

But it was not the tech guys who lost the data. It was the courier company.

Jakg

duggie1982 wrote: »

Yes got PC World to upgrade the graphic card shortly after I bought it, thats why I sent it away as it was over heating

I always mean to do get image software but always forget.

But it was not the tech guys who lost the data. It was the courier company.

You got PC World to upgrade the graphics card in your laptop?

Are you sure?

What laptop is it?