Philips 32PW9527 Review

Overall Rating

None to speak of

Not value for money, first went wrong after 22 months of ownership, outside of 12 month guarantee.

We purchased the Philips 32PW9527 widescreen TV set in April 2003. It worked perfectly for 22 months, and the only problem we had was with the remote control operating our digibox as well as the T.V, so we had to replace it for one recommended to work independently.

It first went wrong in February 2005. The picture kept fading until it eventually disappeared completely. It looked like the tube had gone.

We complained to the retailer who took it away, replacing it with a loan set.

The good news, was that it was a faulty line output transformer, but the bad news, was that it was no longer under guarantee and could not be repaired free of charge.

I paid for the repair, but it was suggested that I write to Philips explaining what had happened asking for help with the cost of the repair, as the set was expensive and should be expected to last much longer without going wrong. I did this, and they paid 50% of the cost as a goodwill gesture.

I now know that the retailer was just shirking his responsibilities to me under the sale of goods act 1979 (as amended). Anyway, in April 2005 it went wrong again, and kept switching itself off; So it was repaired again, free of charge this time, and put down to a tarnished tube base cap. (Very suspicious).

Guess what, we are now in December 2005, 9 months on, and it has started switching itself off again.

I telephoned consumer direct for advice. It was conflicting! I was told to send a registered letter to the retailer stating my rights under the sale of goods act 1979 (as amended), claiming a refund for breach of contract.

The retailer replied stating that The Sale of Goods Act does not say that an item must not go wrong, and he has been more than accommodating, and because of the length of time the set was owned, he is not inclined to credit my TV due to the problems I had.

Consumer Advice then told me to let the retailer repair it again. It will be very difficult to get a replacement or refund because of the time scale unless I can prove the set was faulty when I bought it. I may need to get it inspected by an independent TV expert.

The set is being returned this afternoon (22nd December 2005). The retailer cannot find any fault with it. He is sending his engineer to my house to see if it has anything to do with connected appliances or scart leads!

The retailer will not admit that the set is a rogue one.