TV warranty

[anotheoldgit]

The warranty on my TV is due to expire soon.

I have received notification from a company called Mastercare asking me if I want to take out their 'Mastercare Coverplan', which gives me unlimited free repairs or free replacement of the TV if it can't be fixed, for the next 3 years, at the cost of �119.00.

Has anyone took out a similar plan with this company, and were they satisfied with the plan?

Thank you.

[VHG]

This type of insurance is usualy a complete rip off and many companies make a huge amount of money from selling them, which is why you get pushed to buy them whenever you buy a new product.

Generaly if a TV is going to go wrong it is in the first year. If it is OK after that it will probably for on for years.

And when it does go wrong in 4 or 5 years time you wil probably buy a new one.

Some comments here (couple of years old)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=214377

Mastercare horror story (couple of years old)

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/cur rys-dixons/6700-my-dad-needs-help.html

[Ethel]

I would say that if a television or any other electrical appliance is a 'lemon' it is going to go faulty within the first few months of use.

Eventually the item will simply wear out, of course, but I do not like these extended warranties. They guarantee that you will pay �119, but you hopefully won't need it.

Prices of electricals drop by the year - I'd rather keep the �119 in case I needed to pay for repair or put towards a replacement.

Don't forget also you have rights under the Sale of Goods Act. If you can prove that your television has broken down due to an inherent fault, you will be entitled to a repair and if it can't be repaired, a replacement.

[Ethel]

I didn't see your post, VHG. :)

[theshedman]

Hi, I bought a new TV Video combo from currys a few years ago and had to use the engineers from mastercare on a number of occasions to fix the thing. What a waste of time they were. They kept taking it away and when it came back it usually worked properly for a week or so then broke again. When the guarantee had run out they wouldn't come back again although they had never repaired it properly in the first place as it has always been the same fault. Had I know about the sale of goods act then I would have made more of a fuss I would never take one of these out again or use mastercare. Not friendly at all on phone. What I would do personally these days is to put away the extra money that I would have paid them for a warranty into bank then buy new with that when needed or use it to get it repaired. Sometimes the warranty is almost the same price as buying the thing in the first place. Nice to have a moan now and then LOL.

[kita1]

Took out one on a video recorder a few years ago.

It started to go wrong (ripping up tapes intermittently). They took it away to repair it, brought it back 'repaired'. Ripped up another tape. Took it away, 'repaired' it. Ripped up another tape. Took it away again, 'repaired' it. Guess what?

This went on until the warranty ran out. They obviously could not repair the machine but refused to replace it as they promised.

TOTAL waste of time and money. Would never take out another warranty.

Things are moving so fast with TV's etc. that it would probably work out cheaper just buying a new one.

[anotheoldgit]

Thanks alot I think you have made my mind up for me.