Creative MP3 Player Options

[Lawpf2001]

I bought a Creative Zen V from HMV in august last year. Ive had no problems with it but sunddenly the screens not working. One day it worked next day nothing. The lights on the player still work so there is sum life left in it.

Anyways to my question. Does any1 know what my rights are in terms of warranties and returns on products such as this??? I still have all the orig packaging, recipt and yes even the plastic bag they gave me when i bought it.

Any help

Law
x

[MonkeyFiend]

You're success here depends on how stubborn you are willing to be.

1. The Sale of Goods Act 1979, amended in 1994, says that when you buy goods from a trader they must correspond with the description, be of satisfactory quality - which includes lasting a reasonable length of time - and be fit for the purpose. If the goods aren't of 'satisfactory quality', you're entitled to claim your money back or to claim compensation, which is normally the cost of repairs. This lasts for up to six years after you bought the goods - five years in Scotland. The retailer, not the manufacturer, is legally obliged to sort out the problem if the goods don't meet these requirements. A manufacturer's one-year guarantee is in addition to these rights - many offer free repair or replacement without quibble. Extended warranties are an extension of this.

2. The Department of Trade and Industry publishes a leaflet Unsatisfactory goods: "your rights as a consumer", which you can order from its hotline on 0870 150 2500. You can go to www.consumer.gov.uk

The reality is that random workers in most high-street shops are unaware of such laws, often managers are aware (or have guidelines) but advised against this by head office.

With regards to a screen, providing there's not excessive user damage/water damage etc and its been looked after; the expectation that it should last longer than a year is reasonable.

In practice I've used this on about 8 occasions (mostly on behalf of family members) returning goods to argos/halfords/currys and a few others.

On all occasions, shop staff were useless. Managers varied. On all of these instances, except 2, I've managed to get products exchanged or repaired.

On the other 2, one was a samsung washing machine that broke after about 14 months - didn't succeed with that one. (I realised that me opening it up to see if anything obvious was broken meant that they could tehcnically blame me for the original damage, so I didn't pursue it)

The other was a Sony Stereo (from Dixons) - after exhausting verious avenues, I eventually issued them with a court summons. Shortly after I received a letter with the cost of the faulty item plus court fees.

If you do go down that route then good luck and let us know how it goes