Laptop - Faulty after 32 months (core component failed)

jaydave

Hi,

I purchased a laptop using a British (UK) Credit Card, whilst living in BC, Canada in Oct 2007. Little did I know at the time that the laptop had a faulty core component (the graphics chip) that would fail as time passed on. I'm in the UK now.

The laptop (Asus G2S) was under a worldwide global warranty for two years (Oct 2007 to Oct 2009) and the manufacturer was aware this fault occurs during Mid 2008. They made no attempt to inform customers who has registered their laptop serial numbers. Other manufacturers such as Apple and Dell (who also experienced the same fault as they also used the same graphics chip) helped their customers and resolved this issue.

My laptop exhibited the fault 32 months in as I haven't used it to it's full extent every day as a "gaming" laptop - had I done so, the fault would have exhibited within the original warranty period.

Can I use the Sales of Goods Act here (as I reside in the UK and paid for the purchase with a UK Credit Card) or another Consumer Protection Act under grounds of reasonable quality and use of a product?

The laptop cost around (2300 CAD, about £1200 at the time) and for that price and the type of failure of a core component (graphics chip - when it's advertised as a "gaming" machine) prevents reasonable fair use of the product.

The manufacturers would repair it but at a cost - this fault was existing ever since I purchased the laptop - waiting to occur, a time-bomb.

Can you guys offer any advice or help?

withabix

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act would probably apply, however you will need to gather all of the evidence and proof that the fault was inherent, because of the period of time that has passed.

What is the fault with the graphics chip anyway? Does that laptop not work at all?

Have you approached Asus about the fault and what was their response? You need to do that FIRST.

Don't expect to get CAD2300 or the equivalent current GBP equivalent back.

adam.mt

Can't claim under UK Sale of Goods Act since you bought in Canada, Canadian law would apply. Probably worth looking into that.

And as mentioned, you could try Section 75.

bippetyboo

Hi, I started a thread about this a few days ago after problems with a dell laptop. Dell only offered an extra year warranty and HP offered 2 years. My laptop failed after 26 months. Is the graphics card nVidia?

adam.mt

jaydave wrote: »

Other manufacturers such as Apple and Dell (who also experienced the same fault as they also used the same graphics chip) helped their customers and resolved this issue.

Not always they haven't; there's been considerable complaints about both Apple and Dell's handling of faulty nvidia chips!

jaydave

Thanks everybody for your response and support

It is an nVidia chip - 8600M GT - I get no video on the LCD. HDMI fails with same problems. VGA Out (Analogue, DSUB connector) seems to work only. LCD Panel, backlight, inverter are okay as can see the screen lit at the bottom. At times when booted after a long time of rest, video may appear and then goes blank within seconds - once it's gone it's gone.

I've spoken with Asus Canada for about half an hour yesterday and they have opened a case and asked me to send my request in writing. Have done that this morning.

BC Canada, Sales of Goods Act, 18(c) states:
(c) there is an implied condition that the goods will be durable for a reasonable period of time having regard to the use to which they would normally be put and to all the surrounding circumstances of the sale or lease;

I am using this clause as the reason for my free of cost repair, replacement or refund - as it is not durable for a reasonable period of time, considering the type of unit, cost and how it was marketed to the customer. I have given them 14 days from the receipt of letter to take action. I have also uploaded videos of the defect onto a youtube account and stated the link in the letter for them to look at.

I will try Section 75 of the UK Consumer Credit Act - as I bought it with a UK (Nationwide) credit card if my request with Asus does not follow through.

Lets hope I have some resolution on this.

Many thanks all again

Mankysteve

If you brought the item from a candian company or got it delivered to candian teh fact you used a Uk card doesnt matter Candian laws apply not UK ones.

Jakg

UK Law doesn't apply just because you paid with a UK card.

Everything has to fail at some time - calling it a "ticking timebomb" is a little melodramatic. Yes, the 8600's did fail early, but 32 months is a fair time for it to last.

Realistically the most you would get is a pro-rata refund, which wouldn't be very much looking at the amount of use you'd expect / the cost to replace with something of a similar specification.

neilmcl

Jakg wrote: »

Everything has to fail at some time - calling it a "ticking timebomb" is a little melodramatic. Yes, [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] some 8600's did fail early, but 32 months is a fair time for it to last.

And not all 8600M cards have failed, mine has been working perfectly for the last 4 years.

sofa-spud

Jakg wrote: »

but 32 months is a fair time for it to last.

I beleive the generally expected life of a laptop is considered to be 5 years by many courts (in the UK).

Jakg wrote: »

Realistically the most you would get is a pro-rata refund, which wouldn't be very much looking at the amount of use you'd expect / the cost to replace with something of a similar specification.

This is exactly what has just happened in my case. A compaq failed after 39 months with the 'nvidia defect' and PCW have just agreed to settle by paying me for the remaining 21 months I would have reasonably expected to get from the product.
I'm not sure just how much help it might be as it primarily talks of HP's, but have a look at www.nvidiadefect.com.

loadbang

jaydave wrote: »

It is an nVidia chip - 8600M GT - I get no video on the LCD.

That GPU is known to have problems. I have had two MacBook Pro machines that have had their logic board replaced because this GPU had failed.

It's a known problem. Nvidia have admitted it. Nvidia used a compound that expand and contracts that ends up damaging the silicon chip. I know Sony, HP and Apple acknowledge some faulty batches from Nvidia have been used in their products. Apple have been great with me, one machine was two years old didn't have Apple Care, they asked no questions and replaced the part the next day at no charge.