The One-Repair Rule: What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Refurbished TV 📺

I know many of us are trying to save money, and a refurbished TV can seem like a great deal. But what happens if it goes wrong? One reader, Paul Davies, asked if the “one-repair rule” still applies to a refurbished OLED TV he bought with a 12-month warranty. He asked ChatGPT, which gave him an answer about warranties, but not about his legal rights.

Under the Consumer Rights Act (CRA), retailers are allowed only one repair or one replacement for a faulty product—not one of each. This applies to refurbished goods, though they aren’t expected to last as long as brand-new items. So if the first repair doesn’t work, you are entitled to a refund.

What Are the Differences Between Warranties and Legal Rights?

This is where it gets a little complicated. The AI chatbot was right about warranties, which allow a company as many repair attempts as stated in its terms, as long as a court doesn’t rule it unfair. But your legal rights under the CRA are much stronger. It’s a good example of why you shouldn’t take all the answers from AI chatbots as a definitive truth.

You should also check if any defects are stated in the product’s description[cite: 335]. If they are, you can’t ask for a refund based on that defect[cite: 336]. In addition, if you buy from a marketplace like Amazon, you might have to deal with the seller directly, especially if they are an overseas retailer. However, as one reader found out, Amazon can be more flexible than you might think.

What About Your Old iPad?

It’s not just TVs that have a lifespan. One reader found that his old iPad, stuck on iOS 12.5.7, could no longer load some modern websites. This is because the Safari browser hasn’t received a significant update in seven years, and web technology has moved on. You can try to squeeze some extra life out of it by enabling ‘experimental features’ in Safari’s settings.

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Bibliography:

“Was ChatGPT’s ‘one-repair rule’ advice correct?” Computeractive, Computeractive – Issue 715, 30 July-12 August 2025.
“Amazon refunds reader outside A-Z deadline.” Computeractive, Computeractive – Issue 715, 30 July-12 August 2025.
“Is my iPad too old for modern websites?” Computeractive, nComputeractive – Issue 715, 30 July-12 August 2025.

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