MBA Technology London (Tottenham Court Rd)

[tinytot]

On Saturday boyfriend decided to join the computer age, and brought an ASUS laptop from MBA Technology on Tottenham Court Rd. He chose Asus as I've had two of them without any problems, and a couple of friends have also got them.

We took it out of the shiny box, powered it up, and it wouldn't connect wirelessly to the internet (although it will connect with the Ethernet Cable). Rang Asus CS in Canada (as UK office was closed); 1.5 hrs later they recommended we return it to the store as an out of box failure. We started ringing the store without success. Then decided to try Geek Squad; 45 minutes later they advised the laptop was faulty (after accessing the laptop remotely while we were connected via Ethernet cable), and confirmed the laptop was faulty. Continued ringing all day Sunday and Monday - no answer.

Tuesday I returned to the store; got told I was a liar (about the phone calls) and refused to replace or refund the laptop. I advised I would go to Trading Standards and they actually laughed, saying I'd never get a result. They advised they would test it.

Came back tonight; store clerk couldn't get it connected but manager could (after ten minutes). Brought laptop home, but same problem - it keeps responding 'Acquiring Address'. Other laptops, including Asus laptops, connect without any difficulty. Phoned store; they refused to discuss the issue any further.

 

So far my boyfriend has shelled out 460 pounds for a laptop that won't connect to the internet unless using the ethernet cable - which isn't possible in his flat as the modem is inside a person's bedroom.

 

Any suggestions how to proceed?

[ForestChav]

Well, the shop certainly need a reminder of what your statutory rights are.

 

Without considering any further issues you are entitled to a repair or replacement under the Sale of Goods Act, an item is presumed to have been faulty at purchase within six months of sale unless the store can prove otherwise.

 

I suppose the manager needs to show what he did, really.

 

Other than that, you're of course entitled to a repair under warranty though I can't see why they shouldn't at least replace a new unit.

[dx100uk]

putting the above issues aside for a minute, the issue you have with the wireless connection is, in certain cirumstances, very common & a known fault with windows, particularly WinXP.

 

if you know how to open a cmd prompt, do so and type ipconfig.

if this returns an ip ad in the 169 range, then it is caused by the laptop [or another laptop] trying to establish an ad-hoc pc to pc wireless connection under the same ssid name as you access point.

this is very common on shop brought equipment or where another nearby laptop goes into standby or sleep mode.

you can google the answer/cure easily but the basics are this.

 

you need to change the settings of the wireless card to only connect to access points, not any available network.

then run ipconfig /all

this will give the lease expiry time. you then have to totally power down the pc for longer than that period to allow the lease to expire, then connect to the access point again. release/renew will not work

 

hope this helps

 

dx100uk

[tinytot]

DX100Uk - thanks for the suggestion, but it didn't work. I'm open to trying anything because all we really want is a working laptop, so if you have any other ideas, I'd be grateful.

In the meantime I sent MBA a letter giving them seven days to rectify the fault.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Hi

 

Any News

 

Regards

 

Andy

[SteveH2508]

Did he pay for it using a credit card?

 

If so, he can use S75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to claim against the CC company. This would put some pressure on the trader to sort it out.

[Imfighting]

Tinytot Im really sorry cause I know what you feel. My case is similar but surprise, surprise It tourns out that they sold me second hand laptop while I was buying new one! I spoke with their head office, menagers etc which was just ridicilous. Now Im sending them second letter demanding full refound and If not I will go to court. Definitely. Contact Customer Support we have to fight for our rights. Good luck

[alex_j_bailey]

Hi Tinytot,

 

I know it has been a while but I was wondering how you were getting on with MBA Technology? I bought an Acer laptop from them in 2006 and have had nothing but trouble with the laptop and the company! I have now decided that I want a refund and am worried about what you have said.

 

Anyone else had any dealings with these people?

 

Don't buy ACER laptops!!!

 

Thanks

[Imfighting]

Hi Alex. I have to tell you it's not about Acer laptops, its about the shop... If you've read my previous post it turned out that they sold me second hand which I had no idea about. It was after it broke and I wanted to have it repaired , when I found out. So what I can advise you, call acer and give them serial number of your laptop to check in their database. In my case I went to court, I just couldnt let them go with how the 'managers' of this shop treated me. Of course I won, they sent me cheque with apology It was worth the satisfaction. Good luck and let me know if I can help u.

[alex_j_bailey]

Hi there,

 

I had understood that your problem is with MBA and not Acer but to be honest I have had nothing but problems with Acer too. I would not recommend them to anyone! I bought the laptop from MBA in December 2006 by May 2007 my keyboard was no longer responding so I contacted Acer who replaced the motherboard, only to receive the computer back still not working so it went in again and another motherboard was installed. Now 2 and a half years later the motherboard is again dead. That is 3 motherboards in less than 3 years. Amazing no? When I told them last month that the laptop was dead for the 3rd time they told me to send it to them at my cost and pay for an inspection and then pay for the motherboard! Their attitude is also appalling, they have treated me like a mentally deficient cow from day one.

 

I now just want my money back from MBA and have nothing more to do with Acer.

 

I am glad and amazed that you got your money back from MBA. My past experience of the legal system has left me high and dry with judgments entered, defendants refusing to pay up and bailiffs not worth the money they are paid.

 

Good for you!

 

Thanks for your message!

[tinytot]

Hi

 

I ended up spending £120 on getting an IT expert to fix and repair it, but not before receiving a number of unpleasant communications from MBA. Unfortunately the Office of Fair Trading shared with me that I was one of many complaints regarding MBA Technologies. Surprisingly I've had better luck buying my laptops in Hong Kong on stopovers (and usually saved around £100).

 

As for Acer, a US warranty company just released their statistics on laptop failure by brand (based on claims they received), and have to say Acer didnt rank very well

 

Asus top, HP not in reliability study | Stuff.co.nz

[alex_j_bailey]

Hi Tinytot,

 

Thanks for your reply. I am sorry to hear that you ended up repairing the laptop at your expense, it is simply not right. I shall see what happens with MBA. In my case they haven't yet done anything wrong so hopefully it will just be a case of they reverting to Acer and me getting my money back.

 

Thanks also for the link, I shall have a look at it before thinking about buying a new laptop to replace the Acer.

 

All the best.

[tinytot]

If it helps, I'd vote for Asus; since my fiancees laptop issue, I've since brought another Asus laptop in February, and had no issues whatsoever.

[alex_j_bailey]

Hi Tinytot,

 

Thanks for your advice.

 

FYI MBA Technologies has gone bust. So I am screwed, 'scuse the language! Acer will not do anything.

 

DO NOT BUY ACER COMPUTERS!

[andydd]

Hi Tinytot,

 

Thanks for your advice.

 

FYI MBA Technologies has gone bust. So I am screwed, 'scuse the language! Acer will not do anything.

 

DO NOT BUY ACER COMPUTERS!

 

To be fair, I've had Acer Laptops and while the build quality isnt quite on par with the pricier Sony's of this world, they arn't bad machines, its unfair to claim dont buy Acer because of one PC that youve now had for 3 or 4 years. I work in IT Support and I see many problems with the companies Dell and HP laptops but many people would claim they are great makes to buy.

 

On a second thought I'd avoid all 'electronic' stores on Tottenham Court road, they are equally happy to sell you a tv, kettle or a laptop without knowing much about any of them, keep on walking and pop into Yo-Yo Tech (just off Tot Court Road on Windmill Street), its a 'proper' 'puter shop and i have always found them very helpfull and cheap prices.

 

Andy

[reb2011]

Bought a laptop from MBA/in2 technology Tottenham Court Road. The first time I turned it on, half the screen was blackened out. one year later, it does not turn on and it's never left my house or been damaged in anyway.

MBA said the screen was blackened due to heavy pressure on it and that it must have been me.

It does not turn on and the hard drive makes a loud rattling noise.

Am finding out today if it can be fixed by judging from other's responses, it doesn't look likely.