Faulty laptop from Comet

pg2114

Hello all,

I purchased a laptop computer from Comet about three weeks ago, however I have had serious problems with the power supply, wireless card and keyboard. The item is obviously faulty and I suspect that further issues may arise in the near future.

I therefore sent an email and letter to Comet yesterday to formally reject the goods under the Sale of Goods Act of 1979. Unfortunately, they have responded to my email today asking me to contact the manufacturer in order to resolve the issues. They included the line "The Sales of Goods Act also affords us the right to have a item reported as faulty inspected by an repair agent of our choosing to confirm this to be the case. Asus are our authorised agent in this case".

Am I correct in thinking that I have the right to reject faulty goods for a full refund after about three weeks? Also, am I correct in goods less than six months old should be treated inherently faulty?

Thank you very much indeed,

Peter.

wealdroam

pg2114 wrote: »

...am I correct in goods less than six months old should be treated inherently faulty?

No.

Any fault that occurs in the first six months can be assumed to be inherent unless proved otherwise.
The onus of proof is on the retailer.

The retailer has a right to inspect the goods and 'prove otherwise'.

The retailer has chosen to get their agent to inspect the thing and to provide that proof or not.

pg2114

wealdroam wrote: »

The retailer has chosen to get their agent to inspect the thing and to provide that proof or not.

Sorry if I didn't make it clear in my original post, but Comet have asked me to telephone Asus, on a premium rate telephone number, to arrange for the laptop to be inspected.

Surely this is not reasonable since the goods are obviously faulty and I am trying to reject them within the 'reasonable time' allowed under the Sale of Goods Act of 1979?

Peter.

wealdroam

The goods may be 'obviously faulty', but that is no reason why Comet should be held responsible for the fault.

For example, was the fault caused by dropping the thing?
I am not saying you have dropped it, but surely you can understand that there may possibly be people out there who will try to get the seller to fix that type of thing.

Your other oint...
After a purchase, you have a reasonable time to inspect the goods and can reject them during that time.
If Comet and you disagree what that reasonable time is, you may need to go to court to get a judge to decide that for you.

Have you read MSE's Consumer Rights article?

It covers those points in some detail.

Of course you can take the thing into Comet and ask them to deal with it.
You may find it quicker to deal with Asus direct though.

shaun_from_Africa

Sorry if I didn't make it clear in my original post, but Comet have asked me to telephone Asus, on a premium rate telephone number, to arrange for the laptop to be inspected.

Take the laptop into a branch of Comet along with a copy of the e-mail that they sent you stating that:

"The Sales of Goods Act also affords us the right to have a item reported as faulty inspected by an repair agent of our choosing to confirm this to be the case. Asus are our authorised agent in this case".

and tell them that as Asus are their agents and not yours, any communications regarding the computer should be between Comet and Asus and not you and Asus.

Doing this may save you a few pounds in telephone charges, but as Wealdroam stated, it may well drag out the repair process far more than if you bypassed Comet totally.