comet laptop

[linda m]

My son bought a Fujitsu Semens laptop on 30/09/07. about 3 months later we opened it up and the screen was cracked in two places starting below the clips to close it ,It had never been dropped or slammed shut and was carried in a padded laptop case.
Phoned up Comets at the time[december] who then passed us on to fujitsu helpline,I got a ref no but can't remember if it was from comet or fujitsu.
Anyway the helpline told us screens were not covered by manufacturers warrantyand it would cost £99 plus parts to repair it.Idid not think this was acceptable and phoned back comets and told them so.
Their advice was totake it to an independant pc repairer and get proof this was a fault with the clips above the screen or WAIT FOR THIS ONE claim of my household insurance and tell them we dropped it . Apart from telling lies this would cost me £100 excess I didn't know what to do after that ,could anyone give advice or have I left it too late
thanks

[gyzmo]

Well, it is down to the seller to sort this out, not anyone else. Within the first 6 months, it is assumed taht any fault with an item is inherent and it is down to the seller to prove to the contrary.

I know nothing of laptops, so I cannot say how it would have broken without somethng being done to it. Regardless of how evident it may be that dmage has ben doen deliberately, it is still down to the seller to prove this. They should not have referred you to Siemens (or anyone else).

Hopefully someone on here can explain the cracks in the absence of them being caused accidentally. I would contact Comet again, telling them that this time you have sought advice, and under part 5A of Sale fo Goods Act, they should not have passed you on. As such, you are now seeking remedy off them. If they try and fob you off, stick to your guns and insist that they deal with it as is their statutory obligation. If they say it has been caused by such a thing without even looking at it, do not accept this. They have to proove that there was no fault to begin with, which will require an examination from them. If they refuse to deal, report it to Consumer Direct.

Do keep us updated and good luck.

[ForestChav]

Screen damage is usually (in 80+% of cases) caused by external shock to the screen. In some cases it would also be caused by a known issue, such as an overtightened case screw or heat.

I would imagine that it is more likely that the damage HAS been caused by shock though that depends upon the individual circumstances. If it is coming from an overtightened screw, then the cracks and lines would radiate from the screw. If this is the case then it is clear that the damage IS a warranty issue or an inherent fault as it emanates from a design flaw and/or faulty workmanship.

If that's not the case, the chances are you'll just have to pay for the repair - if it comes down to it and you claim inherently faulty under SOGA then the laptop would be examined by an engineer if Comet dispute it... or they would just get the report from the Fsc engineer claiming it is damage not an inherent fault.

You could always get the lappy back and get your own expert to look at it.