Notebook repair costs while still under warranty

[huebusa60]

I’m having a hard drive issue (SMART 301) with my HP Envy 17t-1100 CTO 3D Edition, Windows 7 64-bit. Product is still under warranty until 2/16/2013. I purchased my notebook in the USA and I'm now in Europe on assignment.

I found a “HP Store” (Cartridge World) here and submitted my notebook for hard drive replacement.

I dropped off my laptop notebook for repair on 1/13/12 and received a RMA form. Laptop was then sent to a certified HP repair center …Multitech Corporation LTD.

I was given an update yesterday by the manager from Cartridge World and was NOT very happy. 

Multitech is asking for the recovery discs which I never received from HP after my purchase.

The hard drive in the unit is partitioned with recovery drive space and files anyway. I also did a backup to an external 1T hard drive.

They want to charge me for the recovery, the recovery discs and there is no estimated arrival date for the replacement hard drive. I thought this was a certified HP repair center. Why don’t they have a replacement hard drive in stock?

Why am I being charged for the recovery or anything for that matter for a product still under warranty?

All costs should be covered under the warranty!!!!!!

I'm getting the impression that the company is double dipping. Get money from me and then charge HP in the US for the warranty repair. This is not a good business practice and unethical if this is the case.

I requested that if I’m going to be charged, I want my laptop notebook returned to me and I will ship it to the US for repair.

I’m NOT happy about this and need help / to be advised.

The HP Customer support unit on-line was of little help.

Stay tuned for further details.

[huebusa60]

Update...

Hard drive was replaced at no cost as it should have been under warranty. This confirmed the truth about multitech trying to double dip (money from me then from HP in the US for the warranty repair). This is not a good business practice and should be investigated by HP.

External hard drive with backup / recovery was sent to multitech. They indicated that they were unable to use it. I ordered a recovery kit which was received and sent to multitech by Cartridge World. They said they received the kit 4-5 business day's after a next day delivery. Cartridge World and I believe they lied about the actual day they received the recovery kit. My laptop is now back in my possession and under evaluation.