Credit card extended warranty – desperate help needed

[dv]

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Help me out pleeeeeeeeease … This story is on my Canon G3 (but it will affect ALL canon digital cameras including A/G/S/Digital EOS (SLR) series; as the warranty language is same for all of them.

Here it goes-

Bought canon digital camera G3 in 1/03 with a major credit card (MasterCard) in USA, that will extend the Canon 1 year warranty by 1 more year. Canon warranty expired 1/04. On 10/3/04, I noticed a crack on the G3 lens and some white spots on LCD screen (turned out to be dead pixels). No idea how did these get there; no damage from my side.

Sent the G3 to Canon Factory Service Illinois and reported to Credit card company. Canon center sent a repair estimate of $180. I filled out the paperwork for credit card insurance --- in the column: Reason for damage: I wrote “spontaneous” as I really didn’t know why it happened. It just happened and I noticed it one day (what should have I written – Reason for damage: “unknown”?)

The credit card company has REJECTED the claim saying “spontaneous” damage to camera lens or LCD is not covered by Canon warranty. The warranty language they quoted is common for all canon digital cameras. Here is what they quoted:

“”Without limiting the foregoing, water damage, sand/corrosion damage, battery leakage, dropping the camera, scratches, abrasions or damage to the body, lenses or LCD display or damage to the connectors or cables, AC adapter or CompactFlash memory card, will be presumed to have resulted from misuse, abuse or failure to operate the PowerShot Digital Camera as set forth in the operating instructions.””

I then called Canon repair center. Quoting this same warranty language, they said this damage would have been covered by Canon if it was sent within canon warranty period of 1 year. But they are NOT willing to give it in writing. They just sent an estimate of cost of repair.

So now I have to fight it out with the insurance company.


Anyone having been in same boat? Any suggestions/help?


See canon camera warranty here:
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=SupportIndexAct
select your camera from the drop down menus. > warranty details > page 1 under (a)

[pradeep1]

Consider calling the credit card company and speaking to a manager. They may be able to help if you if you explain the same thing you did to us. If they don't tell them that you'll cancel their credit card and also take up the matter with the insurance commissioner in your state. Better use the honey first before you use the stick in this case, but since the amount is quite small, they may just help you out.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[rsnadel]

Unless your history in their computer identifies you as a MAJOR customer, you can save your breath about threatening to cancel the card. They could care less these days about losing one customer. I do agree, though, that it's worth raising a fuss about the nature of your claim being refused.