Sorry, its outside the warranty period is something you hear too often.

Guarantee and warranty are terms often used incorrectly, and the time limits set can be an excuse not to help you. For some reason we all think a guarantee or warranty lasts just 12 months, and then we are on our own. Well some very annoyed and determined people have fought their way through this customer service wall.

Back in 1999 the European Parliament decided to set a common guarantee period for consumer goods, and set it at two years, yes 2 years. Some manufacturers give a longer period, and thank you very much to them, but the minimum is two years.

DIRECTIVE 1999/44/EC is the official title. It applies to consumer goods sold within Member States. Consumer goods includes everything bought by a consumer for private, that means non-business, use. The only exceptions seem to be gas, electricity and water when provided as a utility. Contain those items in some way and they become consumer goods.

Next time you are told you are out of warranty or guarantee just print off this Directive. Read it over the counter to your supplier until you bore them to death. Its not a great read, but a very useful one.

We do hear of members having warranty and guarantee problems, so let us know how you get on.

Comments

1. Nev Says:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:06 am

   I bought an ER-6F in October 2006 to commute to work on. In mid 2008, at around 4000 miles, I no longer needed to commute and “archived” the bike. Owing to some building work the bike wasn’t ridden until it went for it’s first MOT in October 2009. The bike failed on “warped front discs”. I purchased new OEM parts and replaced them as I was told that the bike was “out of warranty”. My question is should I reasonably expect the discs not to be warped at such a low mileage?

2. YourKey team Says:
   November 14th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

   The problem with warranties is wear and tear.
   The term warranty is a clever manufacturers’ device to limit their liability to a fixed period. Most still talk about a 12 month warranty. European law demands a two year minimum period for goods sold in Europe. See our blog on the point at http://www.yourkey.info/category/legal-consumer-rights
   Because so much time has passed you could run the line that the manufacturer ought to at least chip in. Also check the forums to see if this is a common problem, as that gives you a much better footing for a fight.
   Let us know how you get on.
   Good luck

Post your comment

Posted in legal rights |