Why PC warranties are increasingly worthless

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 30 May 2008 at 12:17

"If the retailer doesn't accept that the component was faulty, you may need to commission an independent report," said Lezemore. "Ideally, both sides would agree to this and youd split the cost." It's a suggestion that was laughed out of sight when we posed it to two retailers on London's computing hub, Tottenham Court Road.

Would customers be taken more seriously with an extended warranty? Possibly, but there's no guarantee. "Each warranty entered into has to be considered on what's being offered - they're not all as comprehensive as consumers might think," said Lezemore.

So next time you buy a computer, should you take your chances with wobbly warranties or rely on consumer law? That's an increasingly difficult judgement call, but one thing you must ascertain is who that warranty is actually with.

Does that offer of extra cover come from the PC manufacturer itself or a third-party support firm? It's critical to know exactly who - and what - you're dealing with.