faulty tv

[tooj]

TV bought approx june last year has packed up! The receipt is lost.how do I stand legally?

[PurplePolkadot]

i really am no consumer expert, but if you go to the consumer action group forum website there may be someone there who can advise you

[hc4361]

How did you pay for it? You don't need the receipt but you do need proof of purchase which could be a purchase showing on your credit or debit card statement.

[Buenchico]

The retailer is responsible for remedying any problems which occur, due to an 'inherent fault', for up to 6 years after purchase. An 'inherent fault' is something which was wrong with the product at the time of purchase (such as the use of poor quality components or poor workmanship). For the first 6 months after purchase there's an automatic assumption (unless there's clear evidence to the contrary - such as a hammer embedded in your TV screen!) that any problem must be due to an inherent fault. Thereafter, it's up to the purchaser to show that an inherent fault is the most likely cause of the problem. (Theoretically that might require paying for a report of an independent expert, but my own experience is that simply challenging the retailer to suggest any likelier alternative will usually suffice).

Your rights remain place if you lose the receipt but it's possible, of course, that a retailer could challenge you to prove that the product was actually bought from his shop. (Maplin Electronics have replaced a defective item for me, even though I didn't have the receipt. It was their own brand, so I'd obviously bought it from one of their stores, even though I couldn't prove the date. Sainsbury's have replaced a defective laminator for me, without a receipt. It was a widely available product, so I couldn't prove that I bought it from them, or when I'd bought it).

If you purchased the TV online your rights are the same but they might be more difficult to enforce, simply because you can't speak face-to-face with a manager. If you purchased on the High Street, speak to someone in Customer Services, to explain your position. If you don't get satisfaction, demand to see a manager.

Chris