Can I sue a computer repair shop?

Question

I bought I refurbished computer and after a couple weeks it started to run really slow. So I took it to a local computer repair shop and they said the could diagnose the problem and fix it and everything would be covered by their 90 day warranty. They got my computer back to me later that day and it seemed like it was working fine. than just a couple days later it started being slow again. when I took it back to them and said I'd like them to re diagnose it and I should still be under the warranty they said okay and had me sign the same generic agreement as before but It had no cost on it when I signed. then they called me an hour later and said they discovered a new problem and they were going to have to charge me again for repair. they said they fixed it and everything should be fine. after getting it back, my computer wont even turn on completely. it gets to the loading screen the bar fills up and then freezes. I just got I back yesterday and haven't been able to log on since. I'm going to take it back to them and have them re-diagnose an fix it again and for free because it should be covered on their 90 day warrant seeing as how I already paid for this service. They improperly diagnosed it and fixed nothing, actually made it run worse. If they try to say its not covered by there warranty again and try to charge me a third time what are the legal actions I can take.also what about the agreement I signed that had no price on it at the time but they wrote on in later

Answer 1

What does the warranty cover? Warranties almost never cover any software related problems. For all I know, you could've brought it home and got a virus on it right away. Your question is not specific enough. What did they "fix" each time?

Answer 2

Yes, please sue and get into televised civil court. I want to see computer techs on film.

Answer 3

This probably won't be best answer, because this is something original poster probably doesn't want to hear, but whatever.



You cannot use the repair shop. You did not sign any legally binding contract that states that they will always be able to fix your computer. That would be impossible, actually, since no human is perfect. This may sound stupid, but if you didn't read the fine print of that "generic agreement," you'll even get laughed out of small claims court.



Also, no physical harm was inflicted on you, and they did not technically steal any of your property.



You can, however, take this up with HR and see if they can slip you through their warranty policy. This is in extremely rare cases, however.



Too Long; Didn't Read: No. You might be able to take this up with HR. but don't expect to get your warranty extended.

Answer 4

You can sue almost anybody for anything, winning is the issue. Winning here is almost impossible. Buy a new one.

Answer 5

u can, but what's the point. One thing i learn, not to buy anything online used or refurbish.

I found that out, when i bought a boxset of a tv show and it say used and costed less but when i watched the dvds, the last dvd was all scratched up.

Answer 6

You can sue why not but it won't be worth it. To solve everything, go out and buy a brand new computer.

Answer 7

You can sue, but you will wind up paying THEIR legal costs when they prove the problem resulted from YOUR actions after they returned the computer to you.

Answer 8

Small claims court but your going to have to take it somewhere else and get a second opinion which proves the first shop was at fault and it wasn't an inherit error in the system.

Answer 9

take them to small claims court

Answer 10

I think so

Answer 11

u can, but what's the point... one thing i learn, not to buy anything online used or refurbish...

i found that out, when i bought a boxset of a tv show and it say used and costed less but when i watched the dvds, the last dvd was all scratched up...

Answer 12

warranties for computers cover hardware faults.........



if the problem is due to something you have done, knowingly or otherwise - not using a proper antivirus, installing pirated software with nasties, or even just getting a "drive by" malware infection from a compromised web site - then that is not covered by warranty.........





if it's an actual hardware fault, you have a warranty claim.........



if it's a software problem, even if the machine shall not boot at all, it's not covered by warranty.........

your only possible getout with that is to get them to show you how to do a factory reset on it - they should have provided media or files on the machine to do that......... ask them for it if not.........



to have a chance of suing them [successfully], you woudl have to get the machine repaired at a different, independent computer shop and get a written report on what the fault was.........



if that said it was a hardware problem, then you could sue the original supplier for the cost of the repair that they should have done......... if it's a software problem, you are out of luck - it's a pibcak...........................





for info, the standard routine for a new computer warranty claim is they take you through the procedure to do a "factory reset" on the machine, which overwrites everything on it and sets it back to how it was the day it was bought.........



if it works then, the problem was caused by something the owner did and is not a fault or covered by warranty.........

Answer 13

u can, but what's the point... one thing i learn, not to buy anything online used or refurbish...

i found that out, when i bought a boxset of a tv show and it say used and costed less but when i watched the dvds, the last dvd was all scratched up...

Answer 14

you asked them to fix the computer - they claimed they had but they didnt



so sue them



As already said

not every problem is fixable (within reasonable costs) - but that aint the point

they were asked to fix it- if they couldnt they had a responsibility to tell you they couldnt (if it was running "slow" and this was due to the way you had set it up they also had a responsibility to tell you this)

what they CANT do is charge you for fixing but then not fix it



You can try going back but this time take somebody with you (preferable an adult, even better if its a lawyer)

show them the problem then tell them to fix it or you will sue for breach of contract

Answer 15

Why not??

Answer 16

Go to a different place and see if they will do a free run to see what is wrong, and then if they say nothing is wrong you will win easier, but still may not win the sueing of that compsny

Answer 17

Warranties for computers cover hardware faults.



If the problem is due to something you have done, knowingly or otherwise - not using a proper antivirus, installing pirated software with nasties, or even just getting a "drive by" malware infection from a compromised web site - then that is not covered by warranty.





If it's an actual hardware fault, you have a warranty claim.



If it's a software problem, even if the machine will not boot at all, it's not covered by warranty.

Your only possible getout with that is to get them to show you how to do a factory reset on it - they should have provided media or files on the machine to do that. Ask them for it if not.



To have a chance of suing them [successfully], you woudl have to get the machine repaired at a different, independent computer shop and get a written report on what the fault was.



If that said it was a hardware problem, then you could sue the original supplier for the cost of the repair that they should have done. If it's a software problem, you are out of luck - it's a PIBCAK...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pibcak





For info, the standard routine for a new computer warranty claim is they take you through the procedure to do a "factory reset" on the machine, which overwrites everything on it and sets it back to how it was the day it was bought.



If it works then, the problem was caused by something the owner did and is not a fault or covered by warranty.

Answer 18

One word "Refurbished"

Answer 19

It depends.



Was the computer from 5 years ago or older?

Was the computer running an obsolete OS? (ex. Windows XP, Windows Vista)

How much ram does it have and how much hard drive storage does it contain?

What's the processor and is it a single core? (it will most likely lag if it's a single core)



Answer these questions and reconsider if you should do a legal lawsuit.

Answer 20

yes you can sue

Answer 21

no

Answer 22

Sure, you can file suit for whatever you want, but you may not win, an you never mentioned any price(s) they charged you for repairs. You'll need an adult to help you if you're a minor, and some money to file a claim in court. And I'm guessing you probably didn't read all of the "fine print" on their 90 day warranty the first time or the second time you signed it. Did you check with anyone that may have used this particular computer repair shop before? Do they have a Better Business Bureau rating from the local BBB? These are all things you should have checked out before using their services. You already know that their claim will be that they had the computer running great, and you took possession of it and went online and got into more viruses that caused their work to be all messed up again. Better have an adult look at that 90 day warranty before you start looking for a court date.

Answer 23

Word of advice: always make sure all blanks are filled in -never leave them open for somebody to falsify the document. Keep your receipt to show (If needed) that the document was filled in after you signed it!

Answer 24

they're not liable for you downloading all the crap that is clogging it up now......