I have had my GHD's for about five years and in that time had four pairs - all direct replacements when mine broke from GHD. As long as you have your original receipt (you don't have to have bought them directly from GHD as I got mine from my hairdressers), call GHD Customer Services directly and once you have sent back your pair by registered post with a copy of your receipt, they should either mend them or send you a new pair. Each time mine have broken (same problem as yours by the way) they have sent me a brand new pair. If it helps you to find them, their address is somewhere in Yorkshire! Good luck. Broken GHD's are a nightmare!!
Kate
January 2007