This offer was running for nearly two and a half years and had already been extended three times, and although I don't know if you actually tried phoning up JVC as yet but if not I would try it, as its not exactly unknown for them to offer a "goodwill" repair. If however its a no-go then the part necessary to repair the camcorder doesnt by any means break the bank in cost, however its a case of it (the CCD image sensor) having to be fitted by someone acquaint at working with small pieces of electro-mechanical equipment and them possessing a fine tipped (pencil point or near) soldering iron to unsolder then re-solder the 14 pinned device, the pins being finely spaced. Also the downer, as its JVC UK they just may stick to the original ruling of the person requesting the repair having to be the original purchaser of the camcorder and providing proof of this, as this was introduced to stop dealers cashing in by buying up defective devices, getting them repaired free, then selling them on at a handsome profit.