Argos TV broke after 1 yr warranty - sale of goods act?

skywatching

Hi, I bought a TV from Argos last May, which means the 1 year warranty was used up 5 months ago. From what I know, my rights are that my TV should have lasted a few more years and they should fix or replace.

Anyway, I thought I'd discuss this on the phone with them first, before lugging the thing down there and being humiliated in front of a crowd. I got put through to my local store and the manager said it's up to me to hire someone to look at the telly and provide a signed slip that says it's a manufacturing fault.

I found the same information here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/17/consumer-rights-refunds

"After the first 12 months of ownership, where the cause of the fault is unclear, we request that customers provide evidence of a product fault through a professional and independent report. If the report confirms the presence of a manufacturing fault, Argos will consider covering the cost of the report, as well as the appropriate remedy, such as a repair or replacement."

She even said that even IF I can prove it's a manufacturing fault "you wont get a new TV" (as if I'm some sort of beggar after a freebie) I'll get what they think my old one's worth after a year + of use. Very condescending wifie she was, I'm glad I didn't go into the store after all. However I am fuming, it's a 32" Alba LCD that's in my bedroom that I probably watch for an hour, two or three times a week max.

So is it worth getting someone to tell them it's a product fault? I was in the middle of watching something last night and the screen went black but I can still get sound. If I didn't break it, is the fault DEFINITELY with the manufacturer? This is confusing. I might be more out of pocket paying a man to come in and he just says, oh a bulb has gone. If it's a bulb or whatever, is that a manufacturing fault?

Any advice welcome. Thanks.

neilmcl

The onus is on you to prove that the fault is inherent to manufacture, rather than via wear & tear or damage (accidental or otherwise). You need to get an engineers report to determine what the fault is and whether it points to a fault of manufacture/design or not.

Take it to your nearest repair centre and for a small charge (which you can get reimbursed should the report go in your favour) they'll diagnose the fault for you.

shaun_from_Africa

skywatching wrote: »

If I didn't break it, is the fault DEFINITELY with the manufacturer?

What you need is a report that is specific in ststing that the fault was due to an inherrent defect (either from faulty materials or a manufacturing defect).
Basically this means that the fault was there when the TV was puchased but has only now manifested itself.

If the report ststes a manufacturing defect then Argos should cover the cost of this (getting them to do so is a different matter though).

They can offer to repair or replace the TV, but it sounds as if they will be more likely to refund, but as you were told, a refund doesn't have to be the full price that you paid as a deduction can be made to cover the years use that you have had from it.

wealdroam

Further background information can be found by clicking on Consumer Rights: "Give me my money back!" at the top of this page.

skywatching

Thanks for your replies.

I'm not a repairman but how will he knows there was an inherent fault anyway? I mean, if a bulb blows is that a manufacturing fault? The Sale of Goods Act says that stuff like my TV should have a longer life than 17 months, light use.

What I don't want to happen is I'm billed for a guy looking at my telly and then Argos says, "that's not enough info you have there". I might be better just paying to get it fixed, eh?

shaun_from_Africa

I'm not a repairman but how will he knows there was an inherent fault anyway?

Unless he can find something very specific (such as a chaffed wire due to poor routing or a poorly done solder joint), it will probably come down to his opinion and how he words the report.

When/if you take it to the repair guy, why not ask them to have a look and if possible, advise you of the cost before doing too much work.

Al_Ross

Hi,

Modern cheap tv's are now not worth repairing.

Ask a small tv repair shop(very few left now) if they will prepare a report stating that your tv has failed due an inherrent fault,£50.00 should cover this max,and a quick easy £50.00 for them.

Fosterdog

How much did you pay for the TV?
What type of TV is it? LCD, LED or Plasma?

I would expect a 32" TV to last longer than it has but if it was say an LCD that you only paid £100 for then a year would probably be reasonable when you look at one for £500 expected to last around 4-5 years.

wealdroam

skywatching wrote: »

What I don't want to happen is I'm billed for a guy looking at my telly and then Argos says, "that's not enough info you have there". I might be better just paying to get it fixed, eh?

That's the gamble... either take it or not... your choice.

An inherent fault is one that was present at the time of sale but not necessarily apparent at that time.

Take your example of a bulb blowing.
That failure could be due to misuse... you have dropped it down the stairs a few times.
It could be due to fair wear and tear... it has been continuously on for a lengthy period (several years?)
It could be to a poor connection inside that had worked for some time but has now decided to fail.

The last example is an inherent failure.

If your tv no longer works because a component is of poor quality and has now failed, then it is inherently faulty.

skywatching

Fosterdog wrote: »

How much did you pay for the TV?
What type of TV is it? LCD, LED or Plasma?

I would expect a 32" TV to last longer than it has but if it was say an LCD that you only paid £100 for then a year would probably be reasonable when you look at one for £500 expected to last around 4-5 years.

Hi, it's an Alba 32" LCD that cost £199, just last May. It's the bedroom telly, like I said it's only on for an hour or so a couple of times a week.

I'm checking out what the problem might be right now so see if it's fixable by me. In the middle of a movie the screen just went black (no pops or clicks to be heard) and the sound was still working. In the dark of the bedroom I could see a bit of a glow centre of screen. I've narrowed it down to either the invertor or backlight? Not sure yet.

ps
Hey, I'd expect a £500 telly to last me about 10 years. Maybe [EMAIL="I@m"]I'm[/EMAIL] expecting too much for my money? lol

macman

It's an Alba, just a budget badge job, really not worth repairing if the warranty has expired.
As they told you, even if you can prove an inherent manufacturing fault, which I doubt, you'll only get the current value, which is probably £50.
Get a decent budget brand such as LG or Samsung (and not a Technika).
The supermarket cheapies invariably expire soon after the warranty runs out.