Guarantees on Goods and Services

Information

If an item that you have purchased is faulty, you have the right to return the item to the retailer who should be able to repair or replace the item or refund you the cost of the item. These rights are known as your statutory rights.

A guarantee or warranty on a product gives additional protection and this protection is extended to anyone who has possession of the goods during the lifetime of the guarantee.

A guarantee or warranty is a written statement given by the manufacturer or other company. The guarantee or warranty indicates that the manufacturer or other company will repair or replace an item within a set amount of time after it has been purchased. Guarantees are legally binding. That is, they are enforceable through the courts if necessary. The written guarantee should contain the following information:

• What goods the guarantee applies to
• The name and address of the person who will honour the guarantee
• The duration of the guarantee
• The procedure for making a claim under it (which may not be more difficult than ordinary commercial procedure)
• What action the guarantor undertakes to do and
• Whether the purchaser must pay any charges for getting the product repaired (such as postage and packaging).

Products such as some household durable goods (pots and pans, furniture etc.) and electrical goods typically come with a guarantee. Some services may also be guaranteed. For example, work undertaken in a house (such as damp-proofing a building) may also be guaranteed for a specific period of time.

Guarantees can be used by anyone in posesssion of goods during the guarantee period. Guarantees can be particularly useful if you receive a gift as you may not need to show proof of purchase to claim the guarantee.

Extended Warranties

Some retailers may offer an extended warranty on larger electrical items, such as a washing machine. An extended warranty covers the item or service after the manufacturer’s guarantee period is over. This means that you will not have to pay for repairs for the item you buy if it breaks within the period covered by the extended warranty. Before you pay for an extended warranty, think about what the cost of fixing the item would normally be. For example, if an extended warranty costs an extra 60 euro on top of the price of a washing machine and the average price for a repair is 30 euro the machine would need to break down more than twice over the period of the extended warranty for it to be of any value.

Advice on guarantees and warranties

• Read and fully understand the guarantee
• Make sure the guarantee covers problems that you are likely to have
• Do not lose the guarantee
• Remember that you have a guarantee or warranty if the item is faulty
• Remember that you still have your consumer rights.

The National Consumer Agency has information on guarantees and warranties on its website which you may find useful.