For a long time Microsoft was a monopoly and it shows. Recently I contacted Micr...

scholia · on Jan 20, 2016

Did you buy the product from Microsoft?

lottin · on Jan 20, 2016

I bought it from a retailer.

mryan · on Jan 20, 2016

That's probably the issue.

Under the EU Consumer Protection Act, which I believe is what you are referring to, it is the responsibility of the retailer to deal with faulty products, and not the manufacturer.

In this case MS is the manufacturer and not the retailer so they are not obliged to help you.

I suggest you take the product back to the retailer, as they are responsible for any claims under the consumer protection laws.

scholia · on Jan 20, 2016

> In this case MS is the manufacturer

Or, more likely, Microsoft provided the OEM with one of the many components used in the product.

Microsoft, of course, has no control over what the OEM does with it, and doesn't know unless it goes out and buys the product.

Where things get interesting is when Microsoft ships an update directly to the user. This is something the OEM has no control over.....

mryan · on Jan 20, 2016

Yes, that's an interesting point. The digital economy leads to some grey areas.

lottin · on Jan 20, 2016

Thanks for the advice. You're probably right, but still they admit that the product is under warranty, they ask me to send it to them for repair, they say that the product has some unspecified "mechanical faults", which they are unable to sort out, and only then they start to pretend that the product isn't under warranty, because their "technical service" is currently focusing on a different line of products they say. (What kind of pathetic excuse is that?) At the very least, it's completely unprofessional.

davidgerard · on Jan 20, 2016

Then your contract is with the retailer and it's their problem. (They will try to fob you off, but it's their problem.)

avereveard · on Jan 20, 2016

there's quite some confusion about the european consumer law, whatever you do act fast because the real protection only covers six months.

mryan · on Jan 20, 2016

The warranty lasts for two years. The six month time period refers to something else:

> Within six months from receipt of the goods, you just need to show the trader that they are faulty or not as advertised. But, after six months in most EU countries you also need to prove yourself that the defect already existed on receipt of the goods, for example, by showing that the defect is due to the poor quality of materials used.

I have successfully used the EU consumer protection laws to have Apple replace a faulty battery on a laptop that was around 20 months old.

chris_wot · on Jan 20, 2016

There are definitely some advantages to being an Australian. In Australia there is no defined time limit for warranty. Apple at first tried to stop all warranty after a year, then they got multi-million dollar fines and were forced to pay for all repairs, or in many cases offer refunds.

Go to the Apple website today and you'll notice clear disclaimers that their warranty doesn't override a consumer's rights.