Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

[littlesally]

I hope someone here can help with my laptop, because it is very tempting to throw it through the window!!!
Quite often when I log on it tells me there is no connection.
The little icons at the bottom say things like "no connectivity".
I have tried disabling and enabling, turning of and on, clicking on various things, but nothing.
Sometimes this can go on for hours, or sometimes a few minutes.

Then suddenly it will work!

This has gone on for months.
I have rung Dell and they decided I needed a new power lead (??) and it seemed to work ok for a while.
But now it's doing it again and this time even when I plug the computer lead directly in to the laptop it won't work.

I have never had any trouble with the "big" computer.

Today I rang and told them I want them to take it away, I don't want any argument about it (although of course they tried) or any click on this, click on that etc, just come and get it.
I was then told that the warranty had run out.
My OH is 99% sure he paid for an extended one, but is out. He will check his nightmare stash of "filing" and bank statements.

Anyone know what is wrong with the damn thing?
If the warranty has run out is there anything I can do? I've only had it since xmas surely it should not misbehave so soon? When I originally phoned about the problem it was still within the non-extended warranty, as this is the same problem are they still liable to repair/replace or refund?

Please someone help.

While typing this the signal went, came back and went again!
It is nearly ten past six, let's see how long it is til I can post this! Luckily I've done this on wordpad.

Sally xx

[Guest]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Your statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act are against the retailer as they hold the contract with you. This Act states that all goods sold must be of satisfactory quality, as described and fit for all normal purposes. Your rights in this respect can last for up to six years following purchase, but will weaken over time and normal wear and tear is not covered.

This item is not yet a year old, it should not be failing like this and you would have every right to return it as it is unfit for purpose. However, Dell are within their rights to replace or repair the item, they are not obliged to refund you.

[littlesally]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Thanks.
I guess I better talk to them as I just refused to. They wanted me to try things out on it to see what's wrong and I told them they could find out themseves when they collect it!
Now OH has looked through all his p/work and bank statements and it looks like we do NOT have the extra cover. He says he remembers being asked and saying yes, but obviously it didn't happen.
Good job I didn't "accidently" tip tea over it as I had planned to!

During the past hour it has gone off and on about 10 times!!!!

Sally x

[Niklowe]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Here's the link to the sale of goods act. I have used it to get my son's laptop replaced in the past. Most traders are woefully ignorant of what is contained in the act, and therefore will tell you anything to cover up.

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buyi.../page8600.html

[biscuits]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Sal, if you had it at christmas the warranty most definitely cant have run out unless it was only for 6 months which is very unusual.

[veilside01702]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Hi Littlesally, Well you have 12 months manufacturers warranty.....
And as Cetelco said upto 6 years under the sale of goods act...
It is usually looked at as the more you spend on an item the better construction it should be...
So a £1000 laptop should be of better quality and last longer than a £100 laptop...
I did what I thought was sensible and bought a Hotpoint washing machine for £400 and it has gone wrong after 2 weeks, then again at 14 months....
It is down to the supplier to repair or compensate after the manufacturers warranty runs out. This said Dell are both the manufacturer and supplier, so they are resplonsible...
I am looking at the new idea of videoing the fault on a camcorder and then posting on a consumer forum or youtube....
Then let the manufacturer / Retailer know you are posting a report about their product......
The trick is to show the fault and Not to report anything unfounded or defamitory...
Apparently this works well.....often the manufacturers don't like having you advertise their product is crap.....lol
Only do this if you get nowhere in writing.......
Russ

[littlesally]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

I am looking at the new idea of videoing the fault on a camcorder and then posting on a consumer forum or youtube....
Then let the manufacturer / Retailer know you are posting a report about their product......
The trick is to show the fault and Not to report anything unfounded or defamitory...
Apparently this works well.....often the manufacturers don't like having you advertise their product is crap.....lol
Only do this if you get nowhere in writing.......
Russ

I like that idea!!!

I have to ring them tomorrow about the warranty (not having one, after arguing that I have! :o ).
Will ask about the manufactures warranty, as it seems to be for a weird amount of time. About two months ago it was still within time, now it's not, which seems to make the warranty for nine months.

BTW I logged on last night and had no problems at all during a few hours, today I logged on about 20 mins ago and it's come and gone three times!!

Sally x

[Niklowe]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Sally,

the warranty is neither here nor there. The Onus is on the Vendor, that sold you the laptop, to comply with the sale of goods act. The warranty is in addition to your statutory rights as a consumer.

The act states that the item sold to you by the vendor, must be fit for purpose. It is not in any way fit for purpose if it only lasts for a year before breaking down.

The Vendor must also be given the chance to affect a repair within a reasonable time frame.

Do not let them Fob you off by telling you, that you must send it off to the manufacturer. That is their duty if they cannot fix it themselves.

If you are reasonable and give them the chance to repair it and they fail within a reasonable time, then you may ask for a replacement or refund.

Above all, be firm with the vendor, and leave them with no doubt as to where their responsibilities lie.

Hope this helps

nik

[littlesally]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Just spoken to Dell and this man told me that my warranty runs out in December! I told him what the other guy said about it having run out and he said I was mis-informed and he was sorry.
Anyway he took the controls and said that the problem had definitely been sorted - they said that last time.
He kept me informed of what he was doing but all I heard was "Updating the hard drives .... blah, blah blah ........"
Hopefully everything will be ok now.
Thank you.
Am I right in thinking that there is no point to extended warranties?

Sally x

[Paradox]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

IMO... Not really. I was always told by a techy friend of mine that if a computer is going to go wrong, it'll be within the first year (how true this is I don't know, but I've never had the misfortune to find out).

I suppose after about the end of the 2nd year of having the computer, it's value is such that it's not really worth anything, due to the speed of advances in technology!

Like I said, just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree

[littlesally]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

I AM GOING TO KILL THE DAMN THING!!!!!

It has again refused to give me internet connection!
So much for "Definitely sorted"

Can I insist on getting a refund?
I would like to buy a laptop from somewhere I can take it in to if things go wrong rather than spend hours on the phone.

Failing that, a replacement because this one is just not working properly.
If it does get replaced, does the warranty start over?

The last person I spoke to said the warranty is until sometime in December.

I am so fed up of this happening, I just burst into tears.

Sally x

[biscuits]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Sal, calm down!
Try insisting on a refund, if they wont insist on a replacement and the new warranty will run from when you get it
New product, new warranty

[littlesally]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Been switching this on and off now and then to see if it will come back - used the main computer to post earlier - and it's just come back on!
No reason, didn't do anything any different.

So tomorrow my conversaton will be "I want my money back" and will try not to get into anything else. Certainly not click this, click that. They can do that themselves when they collect it! And mean it now I know I am covered.
Will try Veilsides idea if they don't listen.

Glad to know about the new warranty.
TBH I need a new machine as the warranty runs out on this one in a couple of months and I realise, thanks to replies, I can still insist - it is easier with the warranty. I don't trust this one.
Have been emailing myself all that I can from my files, so I will still have it.

Sally x

[PJ69]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

New product, new warranty

Not necessarily - I had a pair of hair straighteners, [not shop bought, could only get them from my hairdressers rep, but doubt that made any difference]. They had 1years warranty on them, but there was a clause in the T&C's and when when I returned them as faulty, they replaced them but I only got the remainder of the original 12months warranty [which only amounted to 1month].

So really Sal, it depends if it says anything in the warranty you've got hun. Hope you do get it sorted tho!

PJ xx

[biscuits]

Re: Help Needed With Laptop Before I Kill It!!!

Wouldnt that then come under the unfair terms and conditions pj?
Doesnt seem very fair to me!