Chillblast ............. oh dear !

arclight

arclight

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I have bought all my PC's from Chillblast over the last 20 years. Excellent PC's and service until now.

I bought a new system 3 months ago. It "died" right at the end of August. Chillblast rapidly arranged a 'warranty' return and they have had the system since 1 Sept. Lack of progress/response and communication below my expectations began to worry me.
I got an email from them this morning. It seems that around 4 weeks ago they have been giving repairs to a company called MendIT. Chillblast cannot provide an estimated return date.

They have asked me if I want my PC returned unrepaired.

My instinct is to get some publicity via the computing press etc.
 
My initial thought was to invoke your consumer rights.

As in a 3 month old computer failing is not of merchantable quality etc.

However, a computer is not like returning a kettle. On the surmise that you have all your data backed up and there is nothing on the computer of highly personal data......I would be thinking of getting a full refund based on consumer rights protection? NB the Citizens Advice Bureau is a good port of call to confirm exactly what your rights are so IIRC one of the .gov.uk websites.

Therefore, depending on the exact advice as to your rights, it is your choice as to which route to go down?
 
Box Brownie said:
My initial thought was to invoke your consumer rights.

As in a 3 month old computer failing is not of merchantable quality etc.

However, a computer is not like returning a kettle. On the surmise that you have all your data backed up and there is nothing on the computer of highly personal data......I would be thinking of getting a full refund based on consumer rights protection? NB the Citizens Advice Bureau is a good port of call to confirm exactly what your rights are so IIRC one of the .gov.uk websites.

Therefore, depending on the exact advice as to your rights, it is your choice as to which route to go down?
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Yes, the consumer rights angle is prominent in my mind..

Also in mind, is publicity via magazines.

Given that the failure was sudden I could not retrieve/delete personal info. I have already changed several passwords to prevent fraud. However, there will be correspondence with my name and address.
 
Shortly after responding to Box Brownie I sent a very pointed, but polite email to Chillblast.
They have replied and acknowledged that the service I have received is not what it should be (or words to that effect).
They have offered to build me a new PC with all new parts and a CPU upgraded from i3 to i5 and deliver it in 4-5 days.
I accepted their offer and they are going ahead with the new build.
 
arclight said:
Shortly after responding to Box Brownie I sent a very pointed, but polite email to Chillblast.
They have replied and acknowledged that the service I have received is not what it should be (or words to that effect).
They have offered to build me a new PC with all new parts and a CPU upgraded from i3 to i5 and deliver it in 4-5 days.
I accepted their offer and they are going ahead with the new build.
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I would ask them to send you the hard drive from the old PC as well
 
Milo King said:
I would ask them to send you the hard drive from the old PC as well
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100% this, even if that is something that failed and potentially irrecoverably at least the decision to destroy it is yours!
 
Box Brownie said:
100% this, even if that is something that failed and potentially irrecoverably at least the decision to destroy it is yours!
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I did think about that, but it occurred to me that even if the HD was returned it would not guarantee that it had not been looked at or copied.

Anyone sending a PC to any repairer faces the risk that the techs could have a nosey little look at the content. It will happen, but probably most repairers don't give a hoot what is on HD's. It is a bit like postmen reading postcards ............ boring !

I have spent a lot of time over the last 3 weeks getting annoyed about the PC failing etc. Now that I have been offered a way "back to normality" I will settle for that.
 
arclight said:
I did think about that, but it occurred to me that even if the HD was returned it would not guarantee that it had not been looked at or copied.

Anyone sending a PC to any repairer faces the risk that the techs could have a nosey little look at the content. It will happen, but probably most repairers don't give a hoot what is on HD's. It is a bit like postmen reading postcards ............ boring !

I have spent a lot of time over the last 3 weeks getting annoyed about the PC failing etc. Now that I have been offered a way "back to normality" I will settle for that.
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I take your point though it is not the techs that I would be most concerned about (on the surmise that most responsible PC repairers are "responsible ")

More what they do with the stripped parts i.e. recycled or disposed off without full data wiping!
 
arclight said:
I did think about that, but it occurred to me that even if the HD was returned it would not guarantee that it had not been looked at or copied.

Anyone sending a PC to any repairer faces the risk that the techs could have a nosey little look at the content. It will happen, but probably most repairers don't give a hoot what is on HD's. It is a bit like postmen reading postcards ............ boring !

I have spent a lot of time over the last 3 weeks getting annoyed about the PC failing etc. Now that I have been offered a way "back to normality" I will settle for that.
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I wonder if that was what Paul Gadd (aka Gary Glitter) thought when he sent his computer to PC World for repair?

I'm not suggesting you have anything on your hard drive that shouldn't be there, of course (y)
 
Bristolian said:
I wonder if that was what Paul Gadd (aka Gary Glitter) thought when he sent his computer to PC World for repair?

I'm not suggesting you have anything on your hard drive that shouldn't be there, of course (y)
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Anyone getting their hands on his property is likely to poke about to see what is there.
 
In the mid 2000s our son worked in a computer repair shop. He ended up with a very much expanded music and video library, though I get the impression he also saw some things he'd have preferred not to as well.

There's a much stronger awareness now about data and privacy than there was then, but one should assume that any drive you place in the hands of a 3rd party WILL be examined in detail, possibly even to the extent of having data recovery software used to find everything you deleted. It's not paranoia - used drives are fair game outside the law. I also remember when ever Apple had my computer for repair they would tell you that you might not get your drive and data back.
 
I’m a Chillblast fan and saddened to read this. They’ve been helpful to me in the past, much like with you.

I hope it’s resolved soon and to your satisfaction.
 
DumfriesDik said:
I’m a Chillblast fan and saddened to read this. They’ve been helpful to me in the past, much like with you.

I hope it’s resolved soon and to your satisfaction.
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Yes, Richard I feel the same.
I fear that changes have been made to that company which could lead it down the wrong road. I had the utmost confidence in them to the point where I never bothered looking elsewhere when I wanted new kit.
They have lost that customer loyalty now.
Hopefully the new PC they are building for me arrives in the 4 - 5 days promised and it runs faultlessly.
 
New PC is en route.
I received an email from the carrier this evening saying they have the parcel and will deliver it on Monday.

Glad about that and glad the carrier is not Herpes !
 
arclight said:
New PC is en route.
I received an email from the carrier this evening saying they have the parcel and will deliver it on Monday.
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Why is Monday such a long time away! Now then, do you need a new monitor to get the most out of it? And that printer? Surely needs replacing?!! At least that would be cheaper than buying ink!!

Enjoy your new machine - out of interest which did you go for?
 
DumfriesDik said:
Why is Monday such a long time away! Now then, do you need a new monitor to get the most out of it? And that printer? Surely needs replacing?!! At least that would be cheaper than buying ink!!

Enjoy your new machine - out of interest which did you go for?
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DPD delivered it a day early.
I didn't select a new machine. Because of the trouble I had been put to Chillblast built me an entirely new Fusion with an upgraded CPU. It is up and running fine.
 
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