Best Buy Class Action Says Co. Fails to Honor Geek Squad Plans as Full Warranties

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Best Buy Stores has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the company does not honor its Geek Squad Protection Plans as full warranties.

Plaintiff Nola Touche of Alachua, Fla., filed the Best Buy class action lawsuit on Oct. 19 in Florida federal court. She says she purchased a Samsung television from a Best Buy store on or around Dec. 1, 2012. At the time of the purchase, she also purchased a five-year Geek Squad Protection Plan for $239.99 to provide warranty coverage for the television.

According to the Best Buy class action lawsuit, Geek Squad Protection Plans are sold by Best Buy for coverage of consumer products. Touche says that Best Buy represents to consumers that the Geek Squad plans are warranties but fails to conspicuously state that the Geek Squad plan only provides a “limited” warranty.

Touche argues that the Geek Squad plans are full warranties under federal law. She says the Geek Squad Protection Plans provide coverage for defects, protect against “lemons,” and claim ownership of replaced defective parts.

Touche says the Geek Squad Protection Plans are warranties under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act because “they provide seamless and almost identical coverage as the manufacturer warranty, stating: ‘After the manufacturer’s warranty expires, this Plan continues to provide the benefits provided by the manufacturer’s warranty (excluding manufacturer’s loaner programs), as well as certain additional benefits as listed within these terms and conditions.’”

According to the Geek Squad Protection Plan class action lawsuit, Best Buy fails to honor its Geek Squad plans as full warranties.

In October 2017, Touche says her Samsung television failed while covered under the five-year Geek Squad warranty. She contacted Best Buy, which sent a representative to her home to diagnose the problem. Best Buy ordered a new part and attempted to install it, but the attempted repair did not fix Touche’s television, the Geek Squad class action lawsuit alleges.

The Best Buy class action lawsuit alleges Best Buy uses its Geek Squad Protection Plan to elect what type of remedy a consumer receives if the consumer’s product cannot be repaired.

“As a result of Best Buy’s unlawful conduct, Plaintiff suffers injury with a failed television and inadequate means to fully assess and/or enforce her rights under the [Geek Squad Protection Plan] and the Federal Minimum Standards for warranties,” the Best Buy Geek Squad class action lawsuit says.

Touche filed the Best Buy class action lawsuit on behalf of herself and a proposed Class of consumers who purchased a Geek Squad Protection Plan from Best Buy since October 2012.

The Best Buy Geek Squad class action lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief, compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and other relief the court deems proper.

Touche has asked a judge to order Best Buy to engage in a corrective action to comply with federal warranty laws and ensure that its warranty terms are clearly and conspicuously labeled in its Geek Squad Protection Plans.

Touche is represented by attorney Simone Chriss.

The Best Buy Geek Squad Protection Plan Class Action Lawsuit is Nola Touche v. Best Buy Stores LP (d/b/a Best Buy, Geek Squad and Magnolia Home Theater), Case No. 1:17-cv-00259-RH-GRH, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.