A warranty can protect consumers from problems with the goods or services. Each of these protections makes a promise that certain problems will be fixed. These protections are in addition to consumer guarantees. They can include:
- protections that consumers are legally entitled to, or
- protections that they can choose to buy.
Conditions of warranty
Consumers must meet the conditions outlined in a warranty if they wish to make a claim to have a product repaired or replaced. If the conditions are not met, the warranty may be void.
Warranty conditions may include:
- claim limits
- excess fees
- contact procedure
- claim procedure
- restrictions on choice of repairer.
Types of warranties
There are four types of warranties available to consumers:
- the business promises (express warranty)
- warranties against defect (manufacturer’s warranty)
- extended warranties
- statutory warranties (for cars)
If a warranty expires and the product turns out to be faulty, you may still be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund under consumer guarantees.