(Photo Credit: ABC News)

By Sandra Temko

If you believe your television is in need of repair, make sure your set is really not working. Most likely you'll have to pay some kind of fee for service whether the TV is broken or not. That is especially true if the TV is under warranty because "No trouble" or "adjustment" calls aren't normally covered. TV warranties generally last one to two years.

Make sure the company you've chosen is a member of a national service organization. One of the largest is the National Electronic Service Dealers Association, which lists members on its website. You should also check out the company at your local Better Business Bureau, paying particular attention to the number of satisfactory responses to consumer complaints. And make sure the company is an authorized service provider for the brand of TV you have.

If you're not technically savvy, it's best to have someone with you when the repair person arrives or when you visit the shop. If you have to pay for any repairs because your set is not covered by warranty, ask for estimates of service fees and try to get them in writing. And if the price of the repair is at least half the cost of a new television, you may want to consider getting a new set.

Note: ABC's The Lookout broadcast looked at three repair jobs done by Steve's Quality TV in Morganville, N.J. There is another company, Steve's TV and Electronics, in Somerset, N.J. Steve's TV and Electronics was not featured in our report. Steve's TV and Electronics has an A+ rating from the New Jersey Better Business Bureau, and is a NESDA member.