A laptop that develops a battery, charging, or screen fault well within its expected lifespan is a common successful claim — your rights against the retailer run for up to 6 years and don't end when the 1-year manufacturer warranty does.
Contact the retailer first, not just the manufacturer. Past 6 months you'll need to show the fault is inherent rather than accidental damage or misuse — a component failure (motherboard, charging port, screen) with no history of drops or spills is a strong case.
Yes, if it fails well before a reasonable expected lifespan for that battery. Batteries are a wearing part, so the retailer may argue gradual capacity loss after 2-3 years is normal wear, but early or rapid failure (swelling, not holding charge at all) usually isn't.
No. Accidental damage isn't covered by the Consumer Rights Act, which only covers faults present at the point of sale (manufacturing or material defects), not damage you caused afterward.
No — if you bought it as a consumer (not as a registered business purchase with business-specific terms), your statutory rights apply regardless of what you use it for.
| Time since purchase | What you can ask for |
|---|---|
| 0–30 days | Full refund |
| 31 days–6 months | Free repair or replacement, then refund |
| 6 months–6 years | Same, but you show the fault is inherent |