Laptop damage covered by extended warranty?

jimmycrackcorm

I bought a laptop almost three years ago with an extended three year warranty that included accidental damage insurance cover. I recently sent it to the care center for a repair under warranty as first the hard drives couldn't be recognized and then the laptop wouldn't power up.

Now the repair company are saying that the laptop has had liquid spillage damage and want to charge for repair instead of fixing under warranty. This is news to me as I work in IT and would never have any liquid near a laptop. They said that it arrived "wet". I think this is nonsense as I had it stored in a laptop bag for two weeks between diagnosing the fault and sending it off;

However the point of my query here is that if it is not a warranty fault and has been diagnosed as damage due to liquid spillage then surely the repair should be covered under the accidental damage insurance? I've included the section from the documentation below. As far as I can tell this should be covered for repair under the insurance but what I'd like an opinion is whether note 10 below: "negligent or careless use" can refer to liquid spillage damage?

3. Meaning of Words
All capitalised terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Policy Confirmation.
Accidental Damage: Any accidental, sudden and unforeseen damage to the Product by external means which affects the operational functioning of the Product
4. Benefits
The repair to, replacement or partial replacement of the Product is only available within the Territory.
During the term of this Policy as detailed on Your Policy Confi rmation and subject to the terms and conditions
of this Policy, We will replace, repair or partially repair the Product as necessary to correct Accidental Damage
to the Product.
If We repair Your Product, You understand and agree that We may replace original parts with new or used
parts from the original manufacturer. Replacement parts will be functionally equivalent to the original parts.
If Our Agent decides that it is necessary to replace the Product rather than repair it, You will receive a product
equivalent to or better than the Product You originally purchased from Acer, as determined by Our Agent at
their sole and reasonable discretion.
We will only carry out repairs, replacements or partial replacements of the Product within the Territory. Should
the Product sustain Accidental Damage covered under this Policy outside the Territory You are responsible for
returning the Product to the Territory in order for Our Agent to carry out a repair, replacement or partial
replacement as applicable. Our Agent may at its sole and reasonable discretion direct You to deliver the Product
to its closest repair centre outside of the Territory.
In the event that the LCD Element of the Product suffers Accidental Damage, You shall be liable for an excess of
EUR 100.00 + VAT per claim (where applicable) or the equivalent sum in the Territory where the cost of repair,
replacement or partial replacement is incurred and the Agent retains the right to withhold the Product from
You until payment is made.
The Product shall be repaired, replaced or partially replaced as soon as reasonably possible, after receiving all
required information.
This Policy covers hardware only

5. Exclusions
This Policy does not cover:
1. Accidental Damage to peripheral devices such as docking stations, external modems, game devices, game
disks, secondary monitors, external mouse and external keyboards, cases, or items classifi ed as “accessories”
or “consumables”, including, but not limited to, light bulbs, projector bulbs, disposable/replaceable print/
ink cartridges, print or photo paper, memory disks, disposable memory devices, carrying cases, stylus pens,
external speakers, any other parts/components requiring regular user maintenance and any other computer
components not integral to the Product.
2. The battery. The battery remains subject to the warranty coverage resulting from the Limited Product
SV_BOOKA_AD4_ SV_BOOKA_AD4_Int_ACC_A.indd 9 Int_ACC_A.indd 9 16/06/10 16/06/10 10:45 10:45Warranty associated with the purchase date of the Product or of the battery itself.
3. Any defects or faults (including without limitation virus-infl icted damage) to software preloaded on
purchased with or otherwise loaded or installed on the Product, including without limitation Custom Factory
Integration items. This Policy does not cover any software shipped with peripherals.
4. Any damage to or defect in the Product that is cosmetic only or otherwise does not affect the functionality
of the Product, including but not limited to scratches and dents that do not materially impair Your use of the
Product.
5. Any damage caused as a result of wear and tear.
6. Any Product that anyone other than Our Agent or a person We or Our designated Agent has tried to repair.
Any repair or attempted repair on the Product by any party other than Us, Our Agent or someone designated
by Us or approved by Us will result in termination of this Policy. We will not reimburse You for any repairs
that You or another person make or attempt to make to the Product.
7. Loss of the Product.
8. Theft of the Product.
9. Damage to the Product caused by fi re from an external or internal source.
10. Any damage due to negligent or careless use, incorrect maintenance work, transportation in inadequate
packaging and all other causes, which are not attributable to manufacturing faults.
11. Any damage that is intentionally caused. If We or Our Agent fi nd evidence of intentional damage, We are
not obligated to repair or replace the Product.
12. Any Product that is damaged by acts of terrorism or war.