Will whatever happens repair my plasma screen?

[redbullman]

Hi there

 

I've got a Pioneer plasma which I purchased from Dixons online in March 2008. The Coverplan 3 year warranty expires in March next year.

 

I've got two little kiddies who have managed to scratch the screen in my opinion quite badly. There is a scratch which I can feel with my figure which is approximately 10/15 centimetres down the screen slightly off centre. When watching light backgrounds it's particularly evident to me at 7 ft away, and even more so when playing games on the ps3. However it's one of those things where if you don't realise it's there, you may not see it; but it particularly bugs me. I see it almost all the time.

 

Will coverplan/whatever happens fix this for me. I've got a whatever happens brochure in front of me stating if you didn't have their cover, a plasma screen would cost £1500 to repair; suggesting they will cover it.

 

The tv still works so where do they draw the line? I know from research that it's impossible to repair scratches on the anti reflective coating without replacing the whole plasma panel. So effectively it would cost almost as much as a new plasma.

 

Any ideas, much appreciated?

 

Thanks

[maroondevo52]

Hello and Welcome, redbullman.

 

I'm not too clued up on 'whatever happens' but hopefully someone will be along to help shortly.

 

Regards.

 

Scott.

[IdaInFife]

Whatever happens does cover accidental damage.

 

Although I know of a few people who have requested repairs and they have had the damaged item returned saying they would not cover it as it came under misuse or abuse of the item..

[Surfer01]

I think this will fall under abuse or misuse unfortunately, but you will never know until yu asked them to look. Are you sure that the kids damaged it and not the cat / dog or perhaps yourself with the vacumm cleaner?

[redbullman]

Hi there

 

Thanks for all the replies.

 

Well we don't have pets and are extra careful around the tv. Considering there are always kiddie prints on it, I would have thought it was a cast iron certainty.

 

I don't really want the tv taken away for weeks if they aren't going to fix it. Our oldest would not be happy with no cbeebies for weeks!

 

The infamous Whatever Happens "abuse or misuse excuse" is surely just a con for them not to pay out. How is a scratch on the screen not accidental damage? I can understand that when a tv has "fallen down the stairs", but not scratches. They've been on Watchdog many times for this sort of behaviour.

 

Maybe I should call them up and ask.

[chris-t-2k7]

Hi

Cosmetic damage isn't covered, if it doesn't effect the working of the product.

Chris

TG

[redbullman]

It's hardly cosmetic damage of it's down the middle of the screen and effects the image being displayed (due to the cracked anti reflective coating). In a common sense world, cosmetic damage would be to the surround of the unit, not the screen itself. I don't see how anybody could put a case together to say a crack on the anti reflective coating doesn't effect the working of the product. It effects the working of the product because it affects the image the viewer sees. Now maybe Whatever Happens people can legally get out of it, but to me it's pretty obvious it's not cosmetic damage.

[joka007]

Hi, i dont think a scatch on a screen is cosmetic if the user cannot see the image so therefore it should come under accidental damage. whether WEH decide to repair it or reject claim is really up to them. common reasons for rejections include 'claiming accidental damage near the time of expieration' or simply something ridiculous like a car driving over a tv....

[chesham]

I think they may deem it to be cosmetic if it does not affect the actual working of the television - as the OP says, the scratch is there but may be missed if you don't look for it. Personally, in my opinion, if you have cover for"whatever happens" then you should have cover for all eventualities - however, my other opinion is that a company will not pay for a repair if the item in question is not [faulty] - in the way that they believe faulty means.

[meekmeek]

1]suggest tweeking the brightness and contrast and playing the game it is most noticable on

2]photograph the severity the scratch has caused

3]phone up call centre and ask them if you emailed them the photo or you tell them a link to a picture upload site would they verify-justify fault and note on their system to ensure work is complete and arrange a repair pickup [if deemed fault]

 

i done this myself and didnt need to arrange a pickup just to assess it they agreed on looking at the uploaded photo it worthy of repair and it got repaired[place copy of photo in repair pickup box with tv]

 

it saves time showing evidence prior to pickup to ensure it gets dealt with rather then wasting time

 

hope this helps