We had a TV that went 'blip' after about 16 months. Took it back to Comet and they said they'd repair it - £45 fee before they even looked at it.......
I spoke to a friend (he does Customer Services for a supermarket chain) and he said 'Get the £45 back!'...
It seems that things have changed a bit..... if you have an item that you expect to last e.g. 5 years like a tv and a washing machine, the supplier is obliged to repair/replace the item as long as it has an inherent fault (i.e. you didn't drop it down the stairs!).
We returned to Comet to pick up the TV and complained that the TV should have lasted more than 16 months and would like a refund of £45, please! The duty manager wasn't having any of it, but gave us the contact details for head office. Letter to head office followed, as did refund of £45 a few days later...
Extract from trading standards web site:
Q. I bought a fridge/freezer about eighteen months ago, and the freezer section has completely failed. I went back to the shop, but they refused to do anything as it was outside the original twelve-month guarantee. What are my rights?
A. If the time limit has expired on the guarantee then you have no claim under the guarantee. However, if you can show that the goods were not of satisfactory quality at the time of sale i.e. they were not as durable as it is reasonable to expect, then you may have a claim against the trader or finance company (if applicable) for compensation under the Sale of Goods Act.http://www.tradingstandards.gov.ukAlso gives example letters for typical responses......
Enjoy!