The Nvidia Defect Forum

HI everybody,
I've got Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21Z with Nvidia 8600M and as everybody here I got inherently defective laptop due to the nvidia GPU.That's my story:
I bought my laptop on 17 Oct 2007 and on 11/08/2008 I had my first problem and sony diagnostic test said "software problem found-a problem has been detected in the installed software base on your hard drive:description-software corrupted/graphics errors".
After that March 2011 my motherboard was replaced by other PC company (I paid £200 for the board).I haven't any idea what's the problem at all bc I've never heard before for that Nvidia fault.I replaced it bc I've been paid £1,199.99 for my sony.It was really good laptop and I preferred to pay that £200 to fix it but it was a waste of money.........I've had a year warranty but after 7 months there was a problem again.The company who fix it did it again.It was working for another 2 months and it doesn't work again.When I spoke with the company they told me for the Nvidia problem and they said that will happen again and they can't do anything else.Then I contact Sony repair centre and they offered me to fix my laptop on half price.Also they said I'm out of my 4 years warranty they know for nvidia problem but can't help me.After that they took my laptop for diagnostic and they said after few days "quote rejected for motherboard due to graphics chip faults,hard drive due to bad sectors & damaged casing" they offer to repair the laptop for £178 but I refused bc the engeneer said will give me only 3 months warranty for the motherboard,can't put another chip and as they are faulty seria chips it doesn't worth to pay that money.He said "it's better to buy new one".
My question is What can I do? Can I ask for refund or replaice at all and who?
Thank's for your sait.

Hello Petrova and welcome to our forum.

Sorry to hear that your laptop has failed.

The information that Sony gave you with regard to the warranty was not entirely correct. They stated that your laptop was outside of the "four years warranty" but, in situations such as this where the laptop is inherently defective, then you have six years from the date of purchase and not four years as Sony would like you to believe.

The four years that they refer to may be the extra warranty they gave when they realised that models were affected by the defect, but this was only a goodwill gesture on the part of Sony and it is in addition to your other legal rights.

Therefore you may also be able to claim for the repair that you had to the laptop.

I have a few questions to see if I can help.

1) Did you purchase the laptop in the UK?
2) Who did you purchase the laptop from?
3) What method of payment did you use (if you paid by credit card then you have extra protection)
4) Do you have proof of payment?
5) Do you still have the repair receipts and what method of payment did you use to pay for the repairs?

Sorry for all the questions but if you can let me know then I will advise further.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

HI PAULE,
Thank's for answering me.I bought my laptop from Sony Centre on Tottenham court road,London.I keep all receipts (purchase and repairs one).I went to Sony shop yesterday and spoke with the manager but he refused to help me.He said first that will send the laptop to sony repair centre for diagnose,I have to pay for that but I showed him the report from sony repair centre and he said "yep the nvidia is faulty but hard drive due to bad sectors&damaged casing and I can't do anything".Because of that I don't know what I can do and is it worth to write to the head office.Also I spoke with friend of mine he said it's possible he to fix the hard drive bc from sony said they can that's mean it's possible and after that to go to next step with letter.
What do you think Paul?

THANK YOU!
PETROVA

Hello Petrova,

It is excellent news that you still have the receipts as you should claim for the cost of the repairs that you have had undertaken.

Remember, Sony have admitted to the defect in your model of laptop and so Sony are therefore liable for your consequential losses.

The problem with the hard drive is secondary and is a completely different issue to the inherent defect that your laptop contains. Sony are in the wrong to refute your claim based on the fact that there are issues with your hard drive.

I would now send them the letter before action as I advise in the step by step guide. If Sony continue to refuse to offer a resolution then I would obtain an engineers report which will hopefully confirm the presence of the defect.

Once you have the report you should send Sony a copy along with a final letter before action. If they stil refuse to comply then you should sue them.

Don't worry about that though, you are in the right and Sony are in the wrong and the law is on your side.

I hope the above helps.

Any questions please let me know.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

HI PAUL,
I'VE SEND LETTER BEFORE ACTION TO THE HEAD OFFICE BUT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ANSWER FROM THEM.DO I NEED TO SENT OTHER LETTER BEFORE ACTION TO THEM?AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE I'VE GOT REPORT FROM SONY REPAIR CENTER THEY STATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO NVIDIA CAN I USE THAT REPORT OR I NEED TO USE INDIPENDENT ONE?COULD YOU ADVICE ME WHAT TO DO NOW PLEASE?

REGARDS
MISS PETROVA

Hello Miss Petrova,

In order for me to be able to advise you could you please let me know the contents of the report you have received from the Sony Repair Centre.

Once I know that I will be in a better position to be able to advise.

Best wishes

Paul
The Admin Team

_________________
=======================================================
Calculate the minimum refund that you would be entitled to.
FAQ's
Why you should not accept a repair
Links to evidence
What is the Nvidia Defect?
Step by step help to getting a refund
Do you need an engineers report?
=======================================================

If you like what you see on this forum and would like to help then please post links to this forum in other forums or blogs. The more people we can help the better.


Please note that I am not legally qualified and I only offer my own personal advice. You are advised to seek professional legal advice for formal clarification of advice I give.

HI PAUL,
FROM SONY SAID "QUOTE REJECTED FOR MOTHERBOARD DUE TO GRAPHICS CHIP FAULT,HARD DRIVE DUE TO BAD SECTORS & DAMAGED CASING".
SONY REPAIR CENTER MADE ME OFFER TO REPAIR MY LAPTOP ON HALF PRICE BUT THE ENGINEER SAID COULDN'T GIVE ME MORE OF 3 MONTHS GUARANTEE.
BEFORE THAT OTHER COMPANY CHANGED THE MOTHERBOARD AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULT NVIDIA CHIP.I PAID £200 FOR NEW ONE AND AFTER 6 MONTHS IT'S FAILED AGAIN BUT EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FINE WITH THE LAPTOP.AFTER THAT FAILED I PHONED TO SONY REPAIR CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT UP.
I HOPE YOU GET WHAT I MEAN
THANK'S SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME PAUL.
REGARDS
MISS PETROVA