HP Service Plan Has Been a Worthless Experience. Buyer Beware -

In March 2008 I purchased a "two year" on site Service Plan for an HP computer puchased in April 2007 (the previous year) at a cost of $160.

Last week i got an email notice that I needed to renew, although only one year had passed. I spent hours on the weekend speaking with personnel in India, who told me that indeed the extended warranty began with my computer purchase in 2007, even though I purchased the extended service plan in 2008!! Nothing of the sort had been explained to me when I purchased that plan. I was assured that any problem I couldn't solve would bring a HP tech to my house.

Yesterday, (Monday) I was told I needed to consult with a "tech" person rather than a "warranty" specialist. The bored and sullen male technician, an american, once again confirmed that the 2-year plan actually begins from the date of purchase, even if that turns out to be a year earlier! This explanation was omitted in the actual contract HP sent me by email. Without such explanations, no contract has meaning. One has to trust the salesman, who can say anything.

I then mentioned that frequently, my computer couldn't be re-started without pulling the plug in the back of the PC. He said I needed to remove everything and start over, and that no technician would come to the house unless it was a hard drive problem. Since I have a month left on my "service" plan, I asked if he could do a diagnostic for me. "How much time do you have, " he asked. I said I've already spent hours on the weekend, and would like to get soemthing for my money during the remaining month of my service contract. I mentioned that a phone diagosis had been done in March, 2008, when I also purchased the Service Plan. I then asked him to begin the diagnostic, and, with a sigh, he hung up.

So I'm left with a meaningless emailed contract with no detales, plus hours of uncompensated time going though HP's artificial hurdles. They were successful n wearing me down.

I note I was forced to buy Vista when I bought my computer at Best Buy, with whom I had a warranty for the first year of purchase in 2007. At the time I added the extended warranty from HP in 2008, I asked about replacing Vista with XP. The answer was that HP would not provide service unless Vista remained in my computer.

My future solution will be to use a established locally owned computer
store and service with a good reputation, who gets your computer back
the next day, and teaches customers about their computers. I could use the education.

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