In reply to:

---

I've been having massive incompetency problems with Hewlett Packard lately

---

We've got a multi-function fax machine at work that started picking up 20 sheets of paper at a time and jamming the mechanism. The boss's fix was to leave it empty and put in a single sheet when required (!)

I spent a while searching the 'net and eventually found a fix-kit from HP which was completely free. It was a lump of cardboard which puts a new piece of rubber onto the paper feed thing when you push it into the paper slot. I was impressed that although it was obviously a manufactuing fault they didn't try and charge you for postage or if it was out of warrantly.

Then someone mentioned it on slashdot and linked to an HP page which explained that the kit was free due to a class-action lawsuit settlement

Gareth