Samsung Smart Centre not so Smart - not even Samsung its Unitronics

<p>I took my Samsung 40" TV in to be checked as I had done a firmware update and after the update the colours on the menus were faulty. After traveliing all the way to N1 City to the Samsung Smart Centre - advertised to repair the product while you have coffee.</p> <p>PLEASE NOTE - This is Unitronics - I was under the impression I would be dealing with SAMSUNG</p> <p>I explained the problem and asked if they could reset and rewrite the firmware. I was told it could be done but their servers were offline and needed to book the TV in.</p> <p>Explaining that i had travelled 100 kms i would wait for them to inform me when it had been done so I could collect the set later in the day. I missed the call they returned but called back within 5 minutes to be informed the technician was with a client and would call me in 15 mins - still waiting. </p> <p>On returning home I had received an email quotation to replace the motherboard and an assessment fee on the set.</p> <p>I contacted them the next morning and disputed the faulty motherboard as all i asked was for the firmware update, they said they would look into it and call me back - still waiting for that</p> <p>I contacted them the next business day and asked to speak to a manager, Was again informed that the motherboard needed to be replaced as they could not overwrite the firmware, again I disputed this as I have been in the IT business for over 30 years. The manager then promised to look into the matter and contact Samsung and resolve the issue and get back to me, again by close of business no returned call.</p> <p>I once again contacted them and managed to speak to another technician - Jacque - explained the problem and he assured me that he would look into the problem and revert. He contacted me the following day saying that he had reset the eprom and reloaded the firmware and i could collect the TV as all was fine.</p> <p>Latter that day i received the invoice, included was an assessment fee, again disputing the fact that it needed an assessment, and that the assessment was completely incorrect, I emailed the company to get the following response from the manager:</p> <p>"Please note that you broke your TV, we had to repair it and this fees is due to my company"</p> <p>After voicing my concern on a follow up email as to why I must pay for an assessment - not asked for, and then one that was completely incorrect and being proved to being incorrect i received the following from said manager:</p> <p> </p> <p>"If this unit is in warranty, no problem,</p> <p>If it's out of warranty unfortunately there is a fee"</p> <p> </p> <p>So be aware - do not book your product it it will automatically collect an assessment fee charge at Unitronics.</p> <p> </p> <p>Also be aware that their assessment "May be incorrect and very costly"</p> <p> </p> <p>Appalled at the complete lack of customer service received from Unitronics , especially the attitude from the "manager".</p> <p> </p> <p>Appalled that such a reputable company Samsung can have dealings with this company.</p> <p> </p>