Currys & Coverplan by Mastercare

Liquid_Stool · 5 June 2005 at 10:54PM

I'd just like to make you aware of this so you don't get conned into buying one!

On Jan 1st 2004, i bought a dvd recorder from Currys, together with a Coverplan Warranty which i was told by the salesman, covered me for 3 years, + 1 year manufacturers guarantee, the DVD/RW cost me 200 quid, and the warranty a further 80 quid.

As usual, the bloody thing packed up a week after the manufacturers guarantee ran out - no prob i thought, i'll just claim on the warranty. I took it to my local store, where i was duly told yes it was under cover and would be repaired with 6 WEEKS - if i buy one at ASDA, i get a straight replacement!!!, still i asked about a loan recorder as i only used it to record my CCTV - no chance i was curtly told. 4 weeks passed, i thought i'd phone and ask about it - IT WAS STILL UNDER THE COUNTER!!!!!!! another 4 weeks passed and i decided i'd waited long enough, it was pointed out to me by a m8 that i coulld have claimed a new one after 6 weeks under the terms of the warranty GRRRRR!

I went back to the shop and they agreed that was right, but when i went to choose a new one i was told "No" I was only entitled to VOUCHERS and what was worse, they would only be issued to the current value of an identical model. Of course, the current price of an identical spec machine now is £95. Could it get any worse? YES, the vouchers could only be issued by post, which took a further two weeks, and to rub salt into the already gaping wound, my warranty was no longer valid after i claimed on it!!, so i work it out that i lost out to the tune of £180, and i STILL had to use the bloody vouchers in CURRYS, so i ended up forking out another £200 to get something that was actually any good, so in the end, i lost out to the tune of £380.

You might think my tale of woe ends here but no, as a final kick in the !!!!!! (as if it didn't already look like a chewed orange), i was asked if i'd like to buy a new warranty - "Surely you jest" i asked, "No i was told, "this warranty is much better than the old one - we scrapped the other one because of the complaints....." :eek:

The moral to this tale? - it's true - extended warranty is not worth the vouchers they're printed on - DON'T DO IT!

soolin · 6 June 2005 at 1:27PM

[
The moral to this tale? - it's true - extended warranty is not worth the vouchers they're printed on - DON'T DO IT![/QUOTE]

I didn't think anybody did buy these extended guarantees anymore?

It makes me laugh though, I bought a £9.99 CD player from Curry's and they tried to persaude me to take out the extra cover for a further 8.99!

Soo

fatboyonadiet · 6 June 2005 at 2:06PM

I've taken extended warranties with www.domgen.com in the past, had things go wrong and found them sorted out pretty easily, they've twice replaced items too as they would cost too much to repair.

aminchom · 6 June 2005 at 2:31PM

I have appliance insurance from norwich union direct (ONLINE). Last year it paid for a sky callout and new box and repair to dish. This year it has replaced my 4 year old dishwasher. It covers appliances like TV, dvd, sky and washing machine, dishwasher etc. It does not cover pc's or central heating. Details here SORRY - just found they are not taking on new customers

There are however other companies who do multi appliance insurance

e.g. http://www.warrantydirect.co.uk/

I cannot vouch for any but I am quite haooy with NUD and they say they may be reopening new policies soon

zodiac · 6 June 2005 at 3:12PM

The trick is to take the fuse out a week before the shop guarantee runs out, that way you get a new one with another years guarantee.
Been doing that for years never fails to work (if you go in on a Saturday its even better, Saturday staff dont really give a @#*$ about what goes on as they're only there for 10 hours a week)

Outtathaway · 6 June 2005 at 3:21PM

My flatmate had the exact same problem. He bought an xbox when they first came out and paid for about £400. He took out the 5 year coverplan thingy and a few months ago it stopped reading discs. He took it to a store and they said they'd send him vouchers as replacement and he was able to keep his old xbox. 3 Weeks passed and nothing so he phoned up and the woman instore had messed up so it would be another 2-4 weeks to get the vouchers. When they arrived Currys had sent him £80 for a new machine (when new xboxs cost about £100) and a voucher for £25 for another coverplan

Liquid_Stool · 8 June 2005 at 5:28PM

ha - like we'd want another coverplan eh? :mad:

Strike_Team · 11 June 2005 at 6:25PM

The biggest rip with extended warranties is that they cover the time in the appliance's lifespan when it's leart likely to fail. Electronic equipment usually fails in the first few weeks/months of its life, which is covered by your statutory rights to refund/replacement, or by the almost-universal 1-year manufacturers warranty. Either that or it'll fail after 5-10 years due to age, wear or electronic component failure. The warranty covers years 2,3 and 4 of its life, when it's quite unlikely to give you any problems.

With the very low price of electronic goods at the moment, the Likes of Currys and Dixons seem to make most of their money from the warranties. No wonder they push them so hard.

shrek101 · 11 June 2005 at 6:29PM

Yes waste of money and always have been. Often people don't realise that they are covered by law even after the 12 months guarantee. So when that TV is dead after 12 months they are obliged to fix it or replace it depending on the fault.

zappomatic · 12 June 2005 at 9:51PM

The biggest moral is not to buy from Currys!

Strike_Team · 13 June 2005 at 12:06AM

Not necessarily. If the item is at a good price (however some stuff in the big-name electrical shops is shockingly overpriced), then buy it, but avoid the extended warranty of course. It's good consumer revenge as they don't make much profit if you don't buy the warranty.

Currys & Coverplan by Mastercare

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