Q: I bought a laptop from a local shop and on the day I purchased it, I inserted an ethernet cable to set it up. However, when I tried to pull out the cable from the laptop, it got stuck.

This same cable was used on another laptop and never gave me problems. The following day, I went back to the shop to explain the problem. Naturally, I expected to be provided with a quick and suitable solution, since this new laptop was purchased to be used on a daily basis.

I explained the problem to the company representative and was told they would keep it to check it out at their workshop. Since I use the laptop on a daily basis and need to have it handy, I demanded that the laptop is replaced or my money be refunded.

I also asked to be present when the laptop was being checked at the trader’s workshop, as I did not want to end up waiting for days for a reply.

The representative told me that if I did not follow their procedure the only option was to keep the laptop as it was. What are my legal rights?

A: First of all, one needs to establish whether the cable was adequate to be used on the type of laptop you bought or whether the problem stems from the laptop rather than from the ethernet cable.

If the former is the case, then legally you have no rights as the problem could be classified as misuse.

If, on the other hand, the cable you inserted in the laptop can normally be used on the type of laptop you bought, and it got stuck because there was something wrong with the laptop that was sold to you by the trader, then legally you do have rights.

In this case, the seller can try solving the problem by repairing the laptop without causing any significant inconvenience.

In other words, if the seller opts for repair and repair will take a few days, during which you cannot stay without a laptop, the seller must either provide you with a temporary laptop you can use while your laptop is being repaired, or you can refuse repair and ask for the defective laptop to be replaced with a new one.

If replacement is not possible, you may ask for a refund.

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