Plus it was a bedroom telly. Probably done less than 24 hours!

Hmmmm, so they don't even have to 'honour' the initial 12 month warranty if they don't want to, they can insist that you get a report done after 6 months. There was me thinking these laws were there to protect the consumer! Another statement says any remedy has to be carried out "without significant inconvenience" I think sourcing an 'accredited technician' is very inconvenient, darn it! One good thing I've learnt from the links provided is that if I can't find my receipt it's not the end of the road. The TV was exclusive to Argos and I have the box with cat numbers etc. There tactics may work here, I may just write it off and go visit Richer Sounds. I'm sure Argos wont miss me. Our posts crossed rebel, I may pursue!!

Thanks for the reply rebel. Can't remember how it was paid for (searching for the receipt, it will be somewhere) but it wasn't by CC. They say they want a report by an 'accredited technician' wherever one of them is. It's mad for a £150 telly. Not only will it cost them but it puts people off using them. Poor judgement I think.

Hi all. I bought a TV/DVD combo from Argos about 18 months ago. It has stopped working. I e-mailed Argos. They replied saying they may be able to help under the 6 year duty of care thingy. In the next sentence they tell me I must get an independent report to prove it is a manufacturers fault. The TV is pristine, never left the bedroom in all the 18 months, it cannot be anything else. Do they have the right to make me faff about finding someone that will do such a report? If so can I claim for my time as well as the report? They aren't doing themselves any favours with the likes of Richer Sounds (who I will use next) giving a free 5 year warranty on TV's. Thanks

I can definitely travel with the diagnosed condition as I have put the details to a different insurer. However, there was concern over a secondary finding hence the follow up. No insurer will, understandably, insure anyone that has a pending investigation for obvious reasons. My current insurer will not cover my diagnosed condition, period. I tried filling out the online form, post diagnosis, to see the difference in cost and received the same quote along with a statement excluding the declared condition. As for the woman with genital warts. Unless the holiday was specifically a 'hanky panky' holiday I think she was probably a tad over ambitious with her claim!!

Thanks UB, I really appreciate your input. I can try the travel agent though they are usually pretty strict on these things but you never know. After more thinking, if the travel agent idea doesn't work, I'm pretty sure I have only two avenues. Either the insurance company say, yes, I'm covered, then whatever happens I'll be able to claim, or I just pay the balance and see what emerges. Even if I get the procedure done within a week (not looking promising) there is no guarantee that I would get the results in time. Obviously I can still travel if I want and what the consultant says will influence my decision. I would be extremely unlucky if something happened during the 11 nights I would be away.

Ok. I had been to the doctors many months ago about the same thing and was told it was nothing unusual (certainly nothing that you would reveal to an insurance company) and I was given something that 'cleared' it, temporarily. I was expecting the same medication on my next visit, a bit like going for antibiotics for an illness and then getting it again, but this doctor decided it needed further investigation, he was right. There was certainly nothing that I could have disclosed when taking out my policy unless you have to tell them every little thing like having a cough or a pimple on your nose Anyway, I've got till the 21st May to pay the balance, a bit longer than I thought. My investigation was meant to be this coming Wednesday. I called the hospital and have been told that there is a shortage of appointments!!! I was told to call the consultants secretary, they told me to ring the people that had told me to ring them, so basically they don't give a rats ass. Time to flatten the NHS and start again IMHO. If I was going to have an ingrowing toe nail removed then fair enough but to leave people in limbo is not right, still, I digress. As I've got more time than I thought I'll do a bit more reading up. What I actually need at this point is the insurance company to agree that I was insured before the event. If my next procedure doesn't turn up any further complications then I can get insured by a different company. If I had the results I would quite happily agree to a refund from the company I'm insured with now and go elsewhere but as I've said, no one will touch me until the procedure are over. Catch 22

UB. I agree with all you say (I think ) The insurers can ask all they like, it was the same day that I took out the policy (around 8:30 in the morning) that I was going to the doctors (around 10:30). As far as I was concerned I was going for a routine appointment but the doctor decided I needed to see a specialist 'just in case'. Even he said that he didn't think there was any cause for concern. Unfortunately, two weeks later, there was. It could look a bit fishy to the insurance company but those are the facts. The reason I bought the policy on that day was that I'm self employed and busy at the moment. As I was taking the morning off work to go to the doctors I thought I'd take advantage. I'm obviously not legally liable for the remaining balance at the moment but I just can't get the full diagnosis at this time. The two things, my next investigation, and the date the balance becomes due look like they may cross. That's the problem. I would take the advice of the consultant as to whether I should travel or not but in the mean time I may have to pay the balance of the holiday. If the insurance company have to cover me by law then that's fine but if I have bad news I don't particularly want to have to start arguing with them. I'm not opposed to a good consumer scrap ordinarily but if I get less than good news I'd rather not. Once the investigation is finished and if I get the 'all clear' for the possibility of further problems I can get insured from another company that covers my condition. It will be 3 or 4 times the amount but that's life I guess. Ho hum!

rebel. I did see that bit and I have complied fully with their terms at the time of taking out the policy. UB. That's the sort of literature I was looking for. I think I get the gist. It looks like I may be covered for cancellation but as I have only paid the deposit it wont be much of a return minus the excess. I will have to tell them my change of circumstance and see what they say. If they wont cover me then I'll ask them for a refund. You never know. I have little chance of getting insurance at the mo as I'm waiting for a follow up procedure and don't have a full diagnosis yet. The problem is that the balance is due soon and if I haven't had my follow up by then I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I cancel, lose my deposit and then get given good (ish, it wont be great either way) news I'll swear. On the other hand if I pay the balance without insurance and it's not good news then I'll swear a very lot, twice!! Thanks thus far both. Edit; just had a read again of those case histories. Most of them seem very similar to my situation. Even if a company inserts certain terms and conditions they must be deemed to be fair should a claim arise.

Thanks for the replies. My holiday is in August and was booked well before diagnosis. UB, you say If you did not tell them before you booked a trip, they would not cover cancellation due to the medical issue does that mean I would be covered for this trip? I have only paid the deposit so far. Cheers.

Hi all. I took out a world wide annual travel insurance policy with xxxxxx insurance. Since taking out the policy I have been diagnosed with a condition that they would not ordinarily cover. I can't really make much sense od their rules and regs. Am I likely to be fully covered as I had no idea I had the condition before I took out the policy or is it like car insurance where if circumstances change you must tell them? Cheers.