Just as an update; the lines now number 32 and increasing steadily, running from top to bottom of the screen. Contacted Dell about the common law thing having checked with consumer affairs. Having connected an external desktop monitor to the lappy with a perfect picture it was decided it wasn't the graphics card that was at fault.
I'm keeping a full log of all conversations with Dell as recommended by consumer affairs, including full names of people I've spoken to. Their chief tactic appears to be to get me to sign up for an extended warranty. "no, you fail to understand, I believe according to Australian legislation......... **
"Yes I understand that sir, but the machine is out of warranty, and if you sign up....."
"Stop! Please put me on to a superior who has authority to listen to what I am saying and make a decision".
"I understand what you are saying, sir (this is apparently the number one phrase to be used as frequently as possible, always followed by "but") but.... "
After three cycles of this Eugene Choo agreed to get a supervisor to call me back. So far, surprise surprise, that has not happened. This tactic will not work either. Tomorrow morning I will be back on the line.
Consumer Affairs gives excellent advice by saying you should keep a full log of everything, names, times places, reference numbers and conversations. I don't know whether I will finally have a win, but I'm going to have a lot of fun trying.
** For what it may be worth, the phrase I was quoted was “Australian consumer legislation means that consumers are legally entitled to a refund, exchange repair or replacement service at no charge (depending on circumstances) if the goods do not last a reasonable amount of time given the price paid for the item.”
A hard drive or graphics card would clearly fall outside this definition. Opinion was that a screen in a $1500 laptop less than two years old which caused the machine to become unuseable and unsaleable should certainly qualify.
I shall post further results as they come to hand.