Help!!! Repair shop broke my laptop???

DeeRottie

I would really appreciate some advice as to where I stand here.

Two Fridays ago, the screen on my work laptop broke - the left side of it went blank like a broken LCD. I work from home, so was able to plug the laptop into an external monitor and everything was fine. I informed my boss who said I could get the screen replaced. I called a repair shop who ordered in the new screen.

The following Tues, I brought in the laptop and the guy replaced the screen. He turned on the laptop and everything was fine. I paid €110 and returned home. The following day I turn on the laptop and the screen doesn't turn on at all - it's totally blank. I again plug the laptop into an external monitor and all is well. I ring the repair guy who tells me to bring it back in. I tell him I can't bring it in til the Friday and he says that's fine. For the rest of the week I work with the laptop connected to the external monitor.

On Friday I bring the laptop back to the repair place. I wander around town as the guy says he will ring me when he's done. He doesn't call. I return to the shop and the guy says he doesn't know what's wrong. He says the screen isn't working when he hooks it up to an external screen - I say well I've been using it like that all week with no problem! He holds up a bit of fluff that he says he found it the laptop, that the laptop model is very sensitive and this could be causing probs. I leave the laptop with him and head home.

It's now the following Thursday and I heard nothing from him. I ring and he's not in the shop but says he "hasn't gotten to the bottom of the problem". I tell him I need the laptop, as the programme I use for work is on there. He says he thinks there is a problem with the motherboard. I ask him to ring me back with an update this afternoon. I have no idea why this guy has to even go near the motherboard when this was a problem with the screen!!!

I am now very very worried. I brought in a laptop that was working perfectly apart from the screen. I'm now terrified that I'm going to be left with a laptop that doesn't work at all and €110 out of pocket. Please advise me what my rights are!

Xcellor

DeeRottie wrote: »

I I have no idea why this guy has to even go near the motherboard when this was a problem with the screen!!!

To replace a screen the old one needs to be removed. This plugs into the motherboard. With most laptops you have to open them up quite a lot to carry out this repair.

Possibly did a bad job and left a dangling cable that shorted motherboard.

hohojojo

really your best option is to go down get the laptop back and try it on your external monitor if it works for you bring it to another shop even if it dosen't still bring it to a different shop


oh and can i ask were the shop is , i'm not asking the name as i know your not allowed to say its just my friend had the same problem with a shop in walkinstown. i ended up taking it apart for him and found the guy had broken one of the ribbon cables and it broke all the easy controls at the top of his computer

DeeRottie

Thanks for that guys. He still hasn't rung me back so I'm going to ring him in the morning and tell him I'm taking the laptop. My question is am I expected to have to pay €110 to end up in a worse position that I was before? And then have to pay someone else to fix the new problem????? Am I entitled to a refund and/or anything else? I am not in a position to be paying for shoddy work.

The shop isn't in Dublin btw

DeeRottie

Ok just rang again. Been told that he has taken the laptop apart and that he thinks it's either a problem with the motherboard or processor and that it's a coincidence that this has happened! He said that there was dirt/hair in the laptop that could have caused it to overheat. He said he was looking at getting in a motherboard from China but that it was £100!

What am I going to do? I feel like this guy broke my laptop when he opened it up and is now trying to wiggle out of it! I don't know how I could go in somewhere to get a screen replaced and end up with a completely broken laptop!

hohojojo

well if you haven't paid him for anything yet i would refuse to as you gave him a fuctioning laptop and he gave it back to you in worse condition and now it isn't functioning anymore and really i would be saying that he blow the motherboard and you could look for compensation if he is a proper company he should just write it down to experience, as you gave it to what you thought was a professional but he obviously either rushed the job and didn't take the proper precautions or he just didn't know what he was doing and it sounds like the that as he is guessing it is the motherboards or chip

and if you loose any of your work because of this i would be very annoyed if i were you

i will say though from what have seen recently i really do think most of these guys saying they are it hardware specialist are just youtube video watchers who think they could throw their to this kind of work and make easy money

hohojojo

you still should get it back and bring to someone else and see if they can see what he has done because changing a screen is extremely easy and usually you'll find that it was bad workmanship when things get broken but if it was working when you got it back the first time just not the screen and now its not he obviously is the one that broke it.

i am not saying laptop doesn't overheat when the fan gets bloked but that sound like an easy excuse to just throw at you and he thinks you'll just walk away or he might make more money out of you

DeeRottie

To be honest I think the guy is a chancer. I'm sure there is hair in there as I do have dogs but I find it too much of a coincidence that he takes my laptop apart and it coincidently broke! I'm going to ask for my laptop and my €110 back as I think it's the least he'll owe me and I hope it won't be much more to get it fixed elsewhere The laptop is only 6 months old, I feel like he should fix it free of charge for me!

foggy_lad

DeeRottie wrote: »

To be honest I think the guy is a chancer. I'm sure there is hair in there as I do have dogs but I find it too much of a coincidence that he takes my laptop apart and it coincidently broke! I'm going to ask for my laptop and my €110 back as I think it's the least he'll owe me and I hope it won't be much more to get it fixed elsewhere The laptop is only 6 months old, I feel like he should fix it free of charge for me!

This is a work laptop and you brought it to some chancer who learned all he knows off the internet when modding games consoles for his mates? You should get your laptop back before he starts selling off the parts then get your money back and bring the laptop to where you work and let them get it repaired themselves!

DeeRottie

In all honestly I didn't think he was a chancer, he had a professional looking website and a shop in the city centre so I thought I was in safe hands. I know what you're saying about getting work to fix it but I work for a charity and hate that they would have to pay for this. The laptop is only 6 months old

gerryk

He's definitely a chancer. Get it back, regardless of the current condition and take it to a reputable repair shop for an assessment. Based on this assessment, build a case against him and demand a replacement, or the value thereof.
Your statutory rights entitle you to have repairs carried out by a qualified repairs personnel. Any damage he carried out should be borne at his expense.

Reamer Fanny

Seen this on a Dell once it may be a fuse blown near the video connector on the motherboard the fuse can be bypassed or replaced if the screen was replaced with a new one it is likely not the screen, and you get video output to an external monitor so it's definitely not the GPU, so a fuse or damaged video cable (cable connecting screen to motherboard) are likely to blame

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

As it's only 6 months old, are you not covered under warrenty?

Reamer Fanny

Colton Slow Schoolhouse wrote: »

As it's only 6 months old, are you not covered under warrenty?

It's been disassembled his warranty with the manufacturer is null and void

gerryk

Colton Slow Schoolhouse wrote: »

As it's only 6 months old, are you not covered under warrenty?

This is a valid point. Why wasn't this dealt with by the manufacturer/retailer, as a warrantable repair?

Reamer Fanny

gerryk wrote: »

This is a valid point. Why wasn't this dealt with by the manufacturer/retailer, as a warrantable repair?

True its a valid point but no longer relevant as the warranty is void because a third party has tampered with it

B00MSTICK

DeeRottie wrote:

He says the screen isn't working when he hooks it up to an external screen

DeeRottie wrote:

He says he thinks there is a problem with the motherboard. I ask him to ring me back with an update this afternoon. I have no idea why this guy has to even go near the motherboard when this was a problem with the screen!!!

If there is no display on an external monitor the most obvious and likely fault would be a GPU or motherboard issue.

justryan wrote:

Seen this on a Dell once it may be a fuse blown near the video connector on the motherboard the fuse can be bypassed or replaced if the screen was replaced with a new one it is likely not the screen, and you get video output to an external monitor so it's definitely not the GPU, so a fuse or damaged video cable (cable connecting screen to motherboard) are likely to blame

According to the shop the external screen and the once working (albeit only for a day) laptop screen display nothing. So unless it's a fuse like you describe and a dodgy connection I'd also diagnose it with motherboard or GPU fault assuming it actually can't display on an external screen.

What make/model is it out of interest?

If you're stuck for work you could remove the hard drive and stick it into an external enclosure to access your files/programs etc. from your desktop or a different laptop if you have one.

It could very well be shoddy work or possibly a coincidence but if it were me I'd be giving you your €110 back at least.

gerryk

justryan wrote: »

True its a valid point but no longer relevant as the warranty is void because a third party has tampered with it

Unfortunately, I think you're right.

DeeRottie

I rang IT at work when the screen broke and they said that screen damage was not covered by warranty, which is why I went to the shop. And yeah no warranty at all now he's taken the thing apart

I will say after he replaced the screen, when I turned it on the following morning, power was going to the screen as it lit up but there was no picture.

Spoke to him yesterday. He said he could get me a new motherboard in 2 week for €150. I started arguing with him but he kept insisting that the fried motherboard is a 'coincidence' because there was hair in the machine and nothing to do with him taking my laptop apart. I told him to put it back together and I'm collecting it Monday - he doesn't open Saturday!

Now I'll have to bring it elsewhere to be fixed and I want the €110 I paid to have the screen fixed back. Considering the screen was never fixed in the first place I don't see how he has a leg to stand on, but I have a feeling this is not going to be easy ... I am raging and so upset by all this.

gugleguy

B00MSTICK wrote: »

It could very well be shoddy work or possibly a coincidence but if it were me I'd be giving you your €110 back at least.

That is the last thing on that repair guy's mind.

DeeRottie

I agree it's the last thing on his mind alright, but does he have the right to keep it considering he didn't fix the original problem, ie broken screen?

elgriff

Coincidence my ear! He obviously made a mess of it and is trying to put the blame on you. Small claims?

B00MSTICK

DeeRottie wrote:

but does he have the right to keep it considering he didn't fix the original problem, ie broken screen?

According to you it was working at one point.

DeeRottie wrote:

He turned on the laptop and everything was fine.

I'm not saying he's right or he's not at fault.

Some hair causing a motherboard/GPU issue is a crazy explanation and definitely a cop-out, I've taken plenty of hair out of fans etc.
Generally if the laptop is overheating you'll notice it either from the actual heat or from errors when you're using the machine.

I'm just saying it's hard to prove 100% that it was his fault.
You could try threaten him with the Small Claims court and see what happens.
Failing that take it to a reputable repair place and see what they make of it and if there's evidence of damage.

DeeRottie

Yeah if I don't get my money back I will deffo go about small claims. Just to point out, the new screen only worked when he turned it on to show me in the shop. The following day (Wed) when I turned it on the laptop powered on, the screen lit up and there was no picture. I rang the shop and he said to bring it back in. I worked until Friday afternoon by hooking the laptop up an external monitor - no probs with the laptop until I bring it to him on Friday afternoon. He tells me to head off for 20mins while he fixed it. When I come back I'm told the whole thing is no longer working - what a 'coincidence'!

I really need this laptop to be fixed, as I use Citrix for work, which is on this laptop but not on my personal one. Anyone know of a reputable place in Kilkenny or Waterford?

B00MSTICK

DeeRottie wrote:

I worked until Friday afternoon by hooking the laptop up an external monitor - no probs with the laptop until I bring it to him on Friday afternoon.

Apologies, I thought the screen & external monitor displayed nothing the Wed after it was fixed.

mdebets

DeeRottie wrote: »

Yeah if I don't get my money back I will deffo go about small claims.

You can't do that. Small Claims Court is only for consumer vs. business. As it is your work laptop, it's business vs. business, so you have to sue him in the normal court (why are you actually paying for the repair and not your employer?)

slimjimmc

mdebets wrote: »

You can't do that. Small Claims Court is only for consumer vs. business. As it is your work laptop, it's business vs. business, so you have to sue him in the normal court (why are you actually paying for the repair and not your employer?)

Not so, the SCC does accept B2B claims and has done for a few years.
Small Claims procedure

(a) a claim for goods or services bought for private use from someone selling them in the course of a business (consumer claims)

(b) a claim for goods or services bought for business use from someone selling them in the course of a business (business claims)

(c) a claim for minor damage to property (but excluding personal injuries)

(d) a claim for the non-return of a rent deposit for certain kinds of rented properties. For example, a holiday home or a room / flat in a premises where the owner also lives provided that a claim does not exceed €2,000.

jimmycrackcorm

If the laptop works with an external monitor then there are most likely 3 possible causes: LCD panel, inverter or loose cable connections. I replaced both a faulty LCD and an inverter on a laptop. Your guy looks to only have done the LCD.

Mostly its either the panel or inverter but both can be broken

DeeRottie

No worries Boomstick. Thanks for that Slimjimmc. And work were going to refund me the money for the screen, but I don't wanna go to my boss and be like, "Yeah, do the whole thing is now broken - new laptop please???"

Been looking at the Sale of Goods and Services Act, am I right in thinking I am covered by Section 53, seeing as I have a receipt for the sceen and made him aware the screen wasn't working less than 24hrs later?

Remedy for breach of warranty.

53.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), where there is a breach of warranty by the seller, or where the buyer elects, or is compelled, to treat any breach of a condition on the part of the seller as a breach of warranty, the buyer is not by reason only of such breach of warranty entitled to reject the goods, but he may—

(a) set up against the seller the breach of warranty in diminution or extinction of the price, or

(b) maintain an action against the seller for damages for the breach of warranty.

(2) Where—

(a) the buyer deals as consumer and there is a breach of a condition by the seller which, but for this subsection, the buyer would be compelled to treat as a breach of warranty, and

(b) the buyer, promptly upon discovering the breach, makes a request to the seller that he either remedy the breach or replace any goods which are not in conformity with the condition,

then, if the seller refuses to comply with the request or fails to do so within a reasonable time, the buyer is entitled:

(i) to reject the goods and repudiate the contract, or

(ii) to have the defect constituting the breach remedied elsewhere and to maintain an action against the seller for the cost thereby incurred by him.

(3) The onus of proving that the buyer acted with promptness under subsection (2) shall lie on him.

(4) The measure of damages for breach of warranty is the estimated loss directly and naturally resulting, in the ordinary course of events, from the breach of warranty.

(5) In the case of breach of warranty of quality such loss is prima facie the difference between the value of the goods at the time of delivery to the buyer and the value they would have had if they had answered to the warranty.

(6) The fact that the buyer has set up the breach of warranty in diminution or extinction of the price or that the seller has replaced goods or remedied a breach does not of itself prevent the buyer from maintaining an action for the same breach of warranty if he has suffered further damage.

mdebets

Thanks slimjimmc, wasn't aware that the Small claims Court also deals with B2B cases.

However the Sale of Goods and Services Act does not apply here, as that is only for consumer, not Business sales.

pleasant Co.

mdebets wrote: »

However the Sale of Goods and Services Act does not apply here, as that is only for consumer, not Business sales.

OP went to computer repair shop as a consumer, not a business. There was no b2b contract in play, only that of a business (computer repair shop) to consumer (OP). The OP has the same rights as any other consumer would have in the same situation.