Nick
10-02-06, 06:10 AM
From ConsumerAffairs.Com
September 29, 2006 - As the result of a recent class action settlement, Panasonic
has agreed to replace the defective lamps found in many of their LCD projection
TV models.
Although Panasonic admits no wrongdoing, the company settled with The Garden
City Group, Inc., a law firm in Melville, N.Y.
Under the settlement, consumers who own Panasonic model numbers PT-50LC13,
PT-60LC13, PT-50LCX63 and PT-60LCX63 are to be included in the settlement.
Panasonic has agreed to give those consumers:
A. An extended warranty until November 30, 2007.
B. Reimbursement of monies spent to replace failed lamps.
C. If the consumer has had three or more issues with the TV, they can get a
replacement TV, or if the consumer chooses, a $1,000 rebate certificate toward
the purchase of a new Panasonic TV with a retail price of $1,500.00 or more.
ConsumerAffairs.Com has received about 30 complaints from consumers whose
Panasonic LCD TVs have failed, usually far before the promised 10,000 hours of
lamp life. In almost every case it is the model PT-50LC13.
"I purchased a Panasonic LCD TV - Model # PT-50LC13 in January of 2005 - it is
now May of 2006 and the bulb is already burned out - less than 2500 hours on a
bulb that claims it can last 10,000 hours," wrote Jennifer of Chesterfield, Va.
"Something must be done because at $300 a bulb you may as well buy a new TV."
Although it would seem the lamp itself is the guilty party, it is not clear whether it
is the lamp or the TVs that are defective. ConsumerAffairs.Com independently
spoke with three Panasonic spokespeople and none could provide any answers.
One thing that is known is that it is the same $300 lamp in all four of the listed
models in the settlement: the TY-LA1000.
Alex Leon, who has serviced TVs for 27 years for Leon & Leon Service Shop in
Woodbridge, Va. said it is most likely the lamp that is failing, not the TVs.
If that's the case, some consumers with Panasonic TVs may be out of luck while
trying to get a replacement through the settlement because the settlement only
covers four TVs that have the TY-LA1000 lamps, but there are at least 13
Panasonic TVs that carry that same lamp.
The other model numbers not included in the settlement are: PT-43LC14, PT-43LCX64,
PT-44LCX65, PT-52LCX15B, PT-52LCX65, PT-60LC14, PT60-LCX63, PT60-LCX64
and PT61-LCX65.
Consumers with one of the listed TVs above, who have had issues with their lamps,
should file a complaint for our editors and class action attorneys to use for future
stories and possible class action suits.
Leon said consumers should not try to replace the lamp themselves because it contains
dangerous chemicals including mercury. Those installation costs would be included
in the Panasonic reimbursement.
To be safe, consumers should avoid purchasing Panasonic TVs that carry the TY-LA
1000 lamp. Will Safer, Panasonic spokesman said he didn't know if those bulbs are
still being used in TVs or not.
In order to receive any reimbursement, consumers need to keep all receipts including
the original purchase receipt. Consumers included in the settlement can go to
www.tvlampsettlement.com for more information on how to receive a
replacement or reimbursement.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/panasonic_settlement.html
September 29, 2006 - As the result of a recent class action settlement, Panasonic
has agreed to replace the defective lamps found in many of their LCD projection
TV models.
Although Panasonic admits no wrongdoing, the company settled with The Garden
City Group, Inc., a law firm in Melville, N.Y.
Under the settlement, consumers who own Panasonic model numbers PT-50LC13,
PT-60LC13, PT-50LCX63 and PT-60LCX63 are to be included in the settlement.
Panasonic has agreed to give those consumers:
A. An extended warranty until November 30, 2007.
B. Reimbursement of monies spent to replace failed lamps.
C. If the consumer has had three or more issues with the TV, they can get a
replacement TV, or if the consumer chooses, a $1,000 rebate certificate toward
the purchase of a new Panasonic TV with a retail price of $1,500.00 or more.
ConsumerAffairs.Com has received about 30 complaints from consumers whose
Panasonic LCD TVs have failed, usually far before the promised 10,000 hours of
lamp life. In almost every case it is the model PT-50LC13.
"I purchased a Panasonic LCD TV - Model # PT-50LC13 in January of 2005 - it is
now May of 2006 and the bulb is already burned out - less than 2500 hours on a
bulb that claims it can last 10,000 hours," wrote Jennifer of Chesterfield, Va.
"Something must be done because at $300 a bulb you may as well buy a new TV."
Although it would seem the lamp itself is the guilty party, it is not clear whether it
is the lamp or the TVs that are defective. ConsumerAffairs.Com independently
spoke with three Panasonic spokespeople and none could provide any answers.
One thing that is known is that it is the same $300 lamp in all four of the listed
models in the settlement: the TY-LA1000.
Alex Leon, who has serviced TVs for 27 years for Leon & Leon Service Shop in
Woodbridge, Va. said it is most likely the lamp that is failing, not the TVs.
If that's the case, some consumers with Panasonic TVs may be out of luck while
trying to get a replacement through the settlement because the settlement only
covers four TVs that have the TY-LA1000 lamps, but there are at least 13
Panasonic TVs that carry that same lamp.
The other model numbers not included in the settlement are: PT-43LC14, PT-43LCX64,
PT-44LCX65, PT-52LCX15B, PT-52LCX65, PT-60LC14, PT60-LCX63, PT60-LCX64
and PT61-LCX65.
Consumers with one of the listed TVs above, who have had issues with their lamps,
should file a complaint for our editors and class action attorneys to use for future
stories and possible class action suits.
Leon said consumers should not try to replace the lamp themselves because it contains
dangerous chemicals including mercury. Those installation costs would be included
in the Panasonic reimbursement.
To be safe, consumers should avoid purchasing Panasonic TVs that carry the TY-LA
1000 lamp. Will Safer, Panasonic spokesman said he didn't know if those bulbs are
still being used in TVs or not.
In order to receive any reimbursement, consumers need to keep all receipts including
the original purchase receipt. Consumers included in the settlement can go to
www.tvlampsettlement.com for more information on how to receive a
replacement or reimbursement.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/panasonic_settlement.html