LG TV Developed Fault

PhatEd

Hi folks.

I'd be very grateful if you kind people could give me some advice before I take the dreaded trip to Curry's for an argument!

I bought a £700 LG 3D TV almost exactly 2 years ago. A couple of months ago, it developed a fault on the screen whereby there is a vertical line of pixels appears, running top to bottom of the screen. When you touch the bottom of the screen it sometimes disappears, sometimes not. Basically it's faulty and most likely a dry solder joint behind the panel from what I'm reading.

Now obviously I realise that I am outside my 12 month manufacturer warranty with LG and I didn't take cover out in store when I purchased it, although I did purchase it on my credit card. But surely there should be something that states that a purchase of this value, especially a TV, should last longer than this before developing faults?

I guess I would like to know if anyone else has been in this situation and how they approached it with the store? I'd also like to know what my options are when the store inevitably give me the "It's outside of your warranty period and nothing to do with us speech"?

Thanks in advance for any info you guys / girls can give!

Regards

Ian

agrinnall

Unfortunately you've said it yourself, it developed the fault after 2 years. The retailer is responsible for the resolution of faults that were present when it was sold ("inherent") or any faults not caused by misuse in the first 6 months, but yours appears to be neither of those and is just bad luck. Had you bought it at John Lewis you'd have been covered, but I think you're right in what Currys are going to say. Your only hope of getting it fixed free of charge is to commission a report to say that the fault has been there since you bought the TV, but I think you'd be wasting your money to attempt that route.

wealdroam

PhatEd wrote: »

Hi folks.

I'd be very grateful if you kind people could give me some advice before I take the dreaded trip to Curry's for an argument!

I bought a £700 LG 3D TV almost exactly 2 years ago. A couple of months ago, it developed a fault on the screen whereby there is a vertical line of pixels appears, running top to bottom of the screen. When you touch the bottom of the screen it sometimes disappears, sometimes not. Basically it's faulty and most likely a dry solder joint behind the panel from what I'm reading.

Now obviously I realise that I am outside my 12 month manufacturer warranty with LG and I didn't take cover out in store when I purchased it, although I did purchase it on my credit card. But surely there should be something that states that a purchase of this value, especially a TV, should last longer than this before developing faults?

I guess I would like to know if anyone else has been in this situation and how they approached it with the store? I'd also like to know what my options are when the store inevitably give me the "It's outside of your warranty period and nothing to do with us speech"?

Thanks in advance for any info you guys / girls can give!

Regards

Ian

The good news is you have up to six years to seek a remedy from Currys.

The not so good news is that they can ask you to prove that the problem is due an inherent fault. An inherent fault is one that was present at the time of sale but not necessarily apparent at that time. For example, a dry joint, as you suggest, could well be considered an inherent fault.

Be prepared for that.

LilElvis

If you commission an independent report which states that the fault is inherent then Currys will refund you the cost of the report in addition to remedying the fault.

PhatEd

Thanks for the info. So it sounds as though I might have a case if I can prove it was an inherent fault.

I'm going to give curry's contact centre a go first before venturing to the store I think. I just find it crazy that such an expensive item that should clearly be designed to last for years can be allowed to just fail and the customer have to pick up the bill...

mije1983

PhatEd wrote: »

I just find it crazy that such an expensive item that should clearly be designed to last for years can be allowed to just fail and the customer have to pick up the bill...

You're right that would be crazy. That's why the law is as it is, to prevent that.

wealdroam

PhatEd wrote: »

I just find it crazy that such an expensive item that should clearly be designed to last for years can be allowed to just fail and the customer have to pick up the bill...

Of course you are right to say that.

But consider the person who knocks it off its stand, or otherwise abuses it.
Is it fair that the retailer picks up the bill then?

Clearly there needs to be some way to differentiate between the two, and that is what 'the rules' are trying to provide.

Good luck.

Money-Saving-King

PhatEd wrote: »

before I take the dreaded trip to Curry's for an argument!

When you do go to Curry's don't go to argue, this will be the worst possible approach.

agrinnall

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

When you do go to Curry's do go to argue, this will be the worst possible approach.

I guess that should say don't go to argue.

Esqui

PhatEd wrote: »

I'm going to give curry's contact centre a go first before venturing to the store I think.

This is a good idea, the stores do not have the ability to accept or authorise repairs outside of the warranty, only the contact centre can do this.

Bigphil1474

Would be interested to know the outcome of this. I have an LG 42LA740V which has a rare intermittent fault along the same lines. When you turn it on a strip of about 3 inches wide top to bottom of screen is discoloured lighter to the rest of the screen. Happened again yesterday. I had had the tv on for a couple of hours watching a movie, no problem. A while later turned it on and this problem appeared - turned the tv off, unplugged it etc. and no change. Went to the pub for a couple of hours and came back and it was fine, and fine again this morning. It's probably been 4 months since it last happened. I do have extended warranty for another 6 months, so if it is an inherent fault, would like to know how you got on. Thanks