Yesterday, I visited Currys as I wanted to purchase a Samsung TV. The Samsung TV I was looking at carries a five-year warranty which is why I was fixated with that product.

Currys staff told me that the Samsung five-year warranty is not as good as their own (no surprise there then!).

They said that if I call Samsung directly, they can take up to 28 days for the initial visit and then they may choose to charge me for the labour element of the warranty. When I asked where this was documented they said on the Samsung website. Not being sure whether this was true or false, I didn’t go ahead with the purchase because to purchase the product before reading the T&Cs would be unwise and I’m sure that would be the conclusion if I complained after the sale.

I was further concerned that Currys were now trying to sell me a second insurance policy which goes against everything that the FCA advise.

I have read the Samsung warranty online and cannot see anywhere that they charge any element of the callout or repair, but I also can’t see what their service level is either i.e., is it 28 days?

Currys also said that if we take their policy, it’s still Samsung that come out to visit but now, they’re obliged to do that in seven days or you get a replacement.

It seems odd that I would buy a TV with a five-year manufacturer guarantee (which I prefer) and then add another layer on top of that for extra cost with a Currys guarantee that is underpinned by the manufacturer guarantee that Currys is advising me not to buy.

The whole thing seems like it’s mis-guiding customers leading to mis-selling products. The more I questioned the more the salesman disengaged. The Samsung rep on site was a total waste of time. He wasn’t bothered about questions he was only bothered about the end sale.