Well I am chuffed I have come across this thread.

I have been fighting for money back from PC World for a lap top I purchased in July05!!!

I paid out over £800 on an Advent lap top and got about 6mths work from it before it started to go wrong. I sent it back under warranty and it was discovered the fan was faulty, the engineer didn't replace the fan just cleaned it. a few weeks later it started to go wrong again but the warranty had run out!!

Lots of phone calls and visits to PC World later it wasn't thier responsibility so I rang trading standards and wrote them a letter rejecting the goods under the sale of goods act.

PC World replied asking for an independant engineers report stating the nature of the problem (the fan HELLO)!!!

I have sent off the report which basically tells them there is a problem with the main board, because the fan wasn't working right it has damaged it. Problem - the main board for my lap top is obselete-Shame! So it can't be fixed which means I want my money back.

I know i have had 6mths work out of it so does that mean I am entitled to 50% of my money back?

I was very interested to read the thread about taking them to court, is that my next move if they don't budge?

Ignore!

You would be looking at rescinding the contract for a partial refund to allow for the use you have had, but it depends really on each individual case how much that would be.

It's a case of negotiating a reasonable sum in each case depending on how long you might have expected the product to last and how much use you have had.

In your case I would certainly expect more than 50% of the money back, a laptop should last for far longer than, say, a year! Aim high and see how much they are prepared to pay you, be prepared to negotiate in return.

I'd guess they'll offer a replacement of similar specification.

Thanks for the input Rosiecotton Spikeachu. Will post when PC World decide to get back to me! OR I decide I have waited long enough and send a letter telling them I am taking them to court.

If you sent the letter to the right place, their Sheffield centre, you'll receive a response reasonably quickly, probably within 7-10 days. If you sent it to Hemel Hempstead address, it goes through their sorting office then sent to Sheffield and response times are longer.

Thanks spikeachu. I did use the Sheffield address so hopefully I should hear this week!

They'll more than likely just offer you a new laptop rather than your money back so it may be worth aiming for this.

It's 2 weeks tomorrow since I posted my recorded letter to PC World with the engineers report in and I have heard nothing, thinking about calling them, what do you think?????

what did the last letter say? I'd start thinking about a lba - keep to your timescale not theirs.

PC World had requested an independant engineers report of the lap top problem, which more or less confirms what I said all along (see initial thread for info).

I would have thought the report said it all and I would have had a reply as to what they were going to do, partial refund or new lap top, but not heard a dickie bird!

Have they definitely signed for the letter?

Hi rosiecotton. I haven't checked! I just presumed they had got it with it been recorded. Will go online now and check with Post Office.

Checked on line and PCW did get my letter dated 13.03.07. spikeachu has been really helpful as he works in the Sheffield PCW they sent a reply out on the 20th, the letter has actually arrived this morning offering me a new laptop! . I must admit I did want a cash refund but thinking about it I am best off with a lap top as my main PC is in my daughters room and because i work from home i can be typing quite late so i have decided to take the lap top!

I can't believe they offered me another Advent! Not on your life mate, not after the hassle with the last one!

So I am happpy. Just the bank to hear from after my claim form to take them to court (thread Yorkie lass v First Direct) and the driving school fee refund which is proving difficult!

Have enlisted the help of CAB so hopefully will get a little bit of my £1,700 back.

As predicted by members of the forum, a new lap top has been put by. PCW rang me today with ref number and voucher number so off to PCW tomorrow to pick it up!

Thanks again spikeachu for your help, received your photocopied letter today!

Do I have to redirect this thread any where else now the case has been sorted? If so how do I do that? :-?

No problem. You can always trust Royal Mail to cause problems.