faulty USB flap thingy.

[jaygrim]

Hi, I've had my Sony experia Z2 for a few weeks now and the flap thing that covers it is always coming loose. Any ideas if I can get this sorted?

[Retired-Matt_B]

Hi jaygrim,

This would be classed as physical damage and you'll be charged for the repair.

It may be best speaking directly with Sony as they have more discretion with the warranty.

Thanks,

Matt B

[yourusernamemus]

How about it being not fit for purpose and of merchantable quality?

If it's lets than 6 months old, it's down to vodafone to proove it's not a manufacturing fault.

Sale of goods Act.

As any court of law would probably say that a flap that you have to remove every day for charging, should be robust enought that it doesn't fall off after 2 weeks...

Remember, your warranty is with VODAFONE, not SONY.

Plus it's what the sale of goods says it is, not what Vodafone claim it is....

vodafone's policy, doesn't trump UK law.

[hrym]

You're quite right.   If your main concern is asserting your consumer rights, this is indeed the way to go.   You can even consult lawyers, who will happily accept your fee.   On the other hand, if your main concern is getting your phone fixed, you could choose the option that'll get that done quickest.  Your choice in a free world.

[yourusernamemus]

Yes paying to get it fixed is always an option if you don't want to take up your consumer rights. Weakens the position for the rest of us somewhat.

[AnnS]

You are quoting the wrong act.  It is the sale of good and services act which applies to mobile phone contracts.

When you take out a monthly mobile phone contract, the goods need to be supplied with reasonable care and skill.  In  this case, the phone is a Sony product and when Vodafone supplied the phone to go with the airtime contract, they would have been unaware that there was a problem with the usb cover. 

If there is a mechanical problem with the phone, all Vodafone are obligated to do is offer a repair.  You have the manufacturers warranty for the product and as this is a well known manufacturers defect, the phone needs to be returned to Sony for them to acknowledge and fix the problem.

Certainly the usb flap should be more robust than it is and should not be so fragile and fall of after the first 2 weeks of use.

[yourusernamemus]

Ann.s

Both Which! and MoneySaving expert seem to agree with you about the act, but not about what it means, in fact they actually say - it's the same protection.

From MSE   - search "consumer-rights-refunds-exchange" on their site.

If you get goods with the service, the same rules apply

When you buy goods on their own, with no service attached, you're protected by the Sales of Goods Act.

Yet if you buy goods as part of a service, eg, a handset with a mobile contract or a boiler that you ask a gas company to fit, you're protected by the Supply of Goods and Services Act.

And if the goods supplied as part of the service become faulty, it's the service provider that's responsible for sorting the problems, not the supplier of the goods.

The protection's the same as the Sale of Goods Act, though....

Key bit..

Know who's responsible

When returning items, beware shops trying the oldest trick in the book: saying they're not responsible for the shoddy goods and you must call the manufacturer. This is total nonsense!

[jeffkinn]

Your are missing a vital point here. With mobile phones you actually get two warranties and not one. The network provides a warranty as does the manufacturer. They run concurrently with each other. By going back to the manufacturer you are taking advantage of your consumer rights and not weakening the position of others who decide to go to Vodafone and not the manufacturer.

[yourusernamemus]

Except that the manufacturer one, is at the manufacturers terms. The vodafone is not. 

In principal Sony should offer you something over and above your legal rights, apple does for example by sending you an advance replacement, or allowing you to walk into a store and walk out with a previously repaired phone.

I've seen nothing in Vodafone's policy, nor Sony's warranty that gives you ANYTHING over and above what you are already legally entitled to, indeed they seek to remove legal rights. 

How long is the warranty on the phone?

1 year.

2 years.

6 years if reasonable.

[jeffkinn]

Apple is a poor example as they continue to provide a 12 month warranty despite the EU requiring a 24 month warranty.

I don't believe that Vodafone does seek to reduce anyone's legal rights - but most people have an enhanced view as to what their rights are in my experience.