About 18 months ago I bought a Thomson DTI 2300 Top-Up TV box. It recently stopped working; the green light stays on all the time it's plugged in but it is impossible to get any picture. Neither using the remote control, nor pressing the buttons in the unit produces any result. I have been in touch with Top-Up TV who suggested all the obvious solutions 1.e unplugging it for an hour, changing the batteries in the remote etc but to no avail. When I contacted Thomsons they were exceedingly unhelpful and said that they had no facilities for repair and could not recommend anyone; nor would they replace the unit as it was more than a year old.
What do you suggest?

Christian, April 2006

First of all under Englishj law your beef is with the person who sold you the box NOT Thonmson. (Its up to the retailer to make their own arrangements to get their money back.)

I would suggest that you go back to the RETAILER who sold you the box and and say that 18 months use from a STB is not acceptable. Huge numbers of Set Top Boxes last years and so because the box that you have been supplied with has only lasted 18months: "Is not of merchantable quality" and you "Reject" it and would like a refund. The one year warranty is over and above your rights in law but a lot of people will try to restrict you to it - they are wrong. Stick to your guns and demand a refund.

Terry, April 2006