Question about faulty Sony TV KDL-40V3000

od017

I bought a Sony Bravia 40 inch HD TV from Currys in late 2008, and around the middle of last year it began to develop dark vertical lines on the screen.

A quick Google search brought up the same issue with many others, and I discovered that I was covered to some degree under the SoGA for up to six years from purchase.

I took it back to Currys (Know How) and paid a £95 fee to have the TV examined, with the understanding that if there was an inherent problem in the machine that wasn't due to wear and tear it would be repaired/replaced, and I would have the £95 refunded.

It turns out this is the case, that it is an inherent fault in the machine, and Know How are consequently offering me the £95 back, but as they cannot repair the machine (as the part is no longer available) they are offering me £80 in compensation.

From other forums I've read it seems that as recently as 2012 people in precisely the same situation as me (with the same model of TV) have been being offered a like-for-like replacement from Know How when the parts aren't available to fix it.

Should I push for a replacement? Should I be entitled to one? I realise that 2008 was a while ago, but I'm still within the six years defined by the SoGA, and I really would have expected a television of this type to last much longer. And £80 isn't going to get me very far, in terms of replacing or having it repaired myself...

Many thanks in advance.

InsideInsurance

The SOGA allows the merchant to decide if to repair, replace or refund.

For refunds, they are entitled to reduce the refund to reflect the use already received from the item prior to the fault, so they can deduct 5.5 years use from the TVs value.

How much did you originally pay for the TV?

Looking on eBay secondhand ones of this TV are selling for £50-150 and so an offer of £80 seems a little low but not totally out the ballpark

neilmcl

£80 seems entirely reasonable to me.

od017

Thanks for your helpful response.

I think original price was £800. The implication I got from the phone call was that the £80 was towards a repair of the existing TV, which I know wouldn't even cover half of any repair costs.

Any ideas how much room there is for negotiation with compensation? I'm struggling to think under what circumstances they'd be convinced to give me more. Thanks again.

InsideInsurance

Just say why you think it is too low and come back with a sensible counter offer remembering their maximum liability is the cheapest of the three options (repair, replace or partial refund)

Esqui

neilmcl wrote: »

£80 seems entirely reasonable to me.

Indeed. I would presume they are working on a 6-year lifespan...£800/72 =£11ish per month. If it's 7 or 8 months off 6 years, that is roughly £80.


That said, I'd still expect more than 6 years from it, so ask for more. The worst you can get is a 'no'.