VENT - PC World

ukdickie31

I purchased a laptop on 31 May 2010. Laptop itself is fine but the battery has started to lose charge. Holds charge for about 15 mins then dies. Can only really use laptop now via AC power supply. It is still under guarantee until 30/05/2011

I keep getting battery error messages on boot up and the red x icon on the battery when charging saying there is a battery error.

Online help via HP (HP laptop) has been good. Battery diagnostics done vai HP built in programs and checked BIOS updates etc. Ran BIOS diagnostic which confirms Battery error and states 'BATTERY FAILED.'

Spoke to HP helpdesk which confirms that Battery is at fault and that PC World should arrange replacement as the guarantee is with them. All this is the easy part.

PC World want me to send my laptop off to their repair centre to check the laptop, check the battery and ... wait for it.... check the new battery to make sure it is OK. Apparently they have to install the new battery under 'Health and Safety.' They cannot do this in store but it has to be sent off to a repair centre.

They cannot give me a deadline for return and will not deviate from this even though I have confirmation via emails (HP support) of the steps taken to resolve the issue and confirmation that the battery is at fault and HP would have replaced under warranty if I brought direct. Their 'Customer Helpline' said there is no other option but to send off the laptop.

I do not want PC World to have my laptop with my presonal details, files, etc. .... and I can confirm it is p0rn free etc as it is a family laptop:rotfl:

Why is it so difficult to replace a battery ?

It is not an internal component that has failed. It is covered under warranty and it is simple to replace.

What are my rights here to have a battery replacement without having to be without my laptop for an unspecified period ?


I paid on CC just in case there were issues.

Has anyone got an email address for complaints?

:mad:

High__Flyer_2

You mean like what happened in the past with Best Buy?

Who sent out a battery, it wasn't a battery fault and a Fire occurred?

Who then got sued?

Why don't you just send it away? Honestly, is it that hard?

ukdickie31

High__Flyer wrote: »

You mean like what happened in the past with Best Buy?

Who sent out a battery, it wasn't a battery fault and a Fire occurred?

Who then got sued?

Why don't you just send it away? Honestly, is it that hard?

Not sure what your first three lines relate to...

I shouldn't need to send the laptop away when it is the battery that needs replacing. Even HP have confirmed it is the battery and they would have shipped a replacement but they are not the company who supplied the laptop.

A battery is all I need replaced, The laptop itself is fine. why should I be without my laptop for days for a new battery?

bigpound

If you have encryption software (it's built in to some versions of windows) encrypt your data then send it off. Alternatively use the freebie truecrypt.

ukdickie31

Thanks for the reply...

My point really is why do I need to send it away where the fault can be verified in store, simply by showing the error message at boot up. I am even happy for the battery to be sent away and replaced after checking. HP were able to confirm via email simply by the error messages. I can use the laptop on AC Power for a few days. The laptop being sent away is not necessary when it's the battery.

PC World have no idea of how important a laptop can be if you need it on a daily basis and for a simple battery there should be no need for the laptop to be sent off.

CoolHotCold

Because they are entitled to repair if faulty, nothing to say that its not a short fuse in the laptop causing abnormal battery drain. If its a PSU that blew and you go in store and they verify (or even just phoning up) they just send out a replacement via Royal Mail which takes 2-3 days.

Point is, either accept and send laptop off, or don't, or buy a new one. Also good idea to test PSU too as battery problems can be down to that also.

Also, just because HP acknowledge its a battery fault doen't mean much, (especially as the laptops are made by Compal electronics), HP have no warranty support as PcWorld gets a discount for taking over aftersales support.

Also, count yourself lucky, most batteries don't come with a 12 Month warranty, varies between 3 months to 12 months

howardh9006

have any of your friends/family/colleagues got a battery for the same model laptop?????

ask them first!

Sooler

ukdickie31 wrote: »

I do not want PC World to have my laptop with my presonal details, files, etc. .... and I can confirm it is p0rn free etc as it is a family laptop

Remove the hard disk before you take it in.

Sooler

ukdickie31 wrote: »

PC World have no idea of how important a laptop can be if you need it on a daily basis.

Then you need to have 2 laptops, just in case

crazyguy

They have to take the laptop in even if its just a battery as you state.

You only other options are to arrange to go into a store and wait while they look at it or buy a new battery yourself.

I can see the problem in it being sent off ?

Sooler

ukdickie31 wrote: »

It is still under guarantee until 30/05/2011

...

I paid on CC just in case there were issues.

Any issue needing attention would need the PC to be given over to someone to fix it. Best not to keep personal data on the PC unencrypted.

Use Truecrypt ...

http://www.truecrypt.org/