'The EU ‘goods must last a minimum two years’ rule is a myth' blog discussion

zigzigzag

According to Sony Centre in London, the 2-year limit doesn't apply to them - never mind a 6-year limit! I made the mistake of buying a Sony Viao laptop, thinking that if I bought a relatively expensive laptop it would be good-quality. (More fool me, though this has taught me a lesson.) The Viao began to malfunction at 13 months (the Sony warranty was 12 months), and about 18 months after purchase it died completely. Sony didn't want to know, refused to repair it, refused to honour the 2-year EU guarantee.

DebP1

A subject I find interesting through my work, My business includes installing boilers.
In round figures a typical boiler might cost £2,000 fully installed (yes can be much cheaper and much dearer... that is not the point here).
Most boilers come now with a 2 year manufacturers warrantee for parts and labour.
But not all, some are still one year.
And some are 3 or even 5 year warrantees - standard.
Most boilers will last well for more than 10 years, some will not.

It seems to me that when someone is spending a lot of money like this that manufacturers should back up confidence in their products with a sensible guarantee. Products which come with hefty price tags should have a longer manufacurers warrantee. Infact, i think Vauxhall are offering lifetime warrantees on new cars.


Similarly, as we are the installers we are more likely to supply boilers with longer warrantees because that is good for us too. We don't want the embarrassment of having to charge customers large amounts to fix their boiler when it is only 2 years old.

Washing machines have a notoriously bad record. I have had good experience with Bosch, but then WM are a lot cheaper to buy these days.

Deb

kalaika

zigzigzag wrote: »

...Sony didn't want to know, refused to repair it, refused to honour the 2-year EU guarantee.

You've missed the whole point in Martin's blog. There is no 2 year EU guarantee, hence the title of the blog "The EU 'goods must last a minimum two years' rule is a myth"

Read the Consumer Rights section - It's the Sale of Goods Act 1979 that you need.

gravelbelly

"The EU 'goods must last a minimum two years' rule is a myth"

Whilst living in Portugal for two and a half years, buying the usual range of consumer goods including white goods, furniture, tools, computer peripherals I only ever received a two year guarantee. I believe that 2 years is the legal minimum in Portugal at present.

Also, everyone who deals with the public, from big corporations to a solo taxi driver or barber must display a Complaints Book. If you use this book to lodge a complaint it must be addressed, by law, no ifs, no buts.

gravelbelly

zigzigzag

kalaika wrote: »

You've missed the whole point in Martin's blog. There is no 2 year EU guarantee, hence the title of the blog "The EU 'goods must last a minimum two years' rule is a myth"

Read the Consumer Rights section - It's the Sale of Goods Act 1979 that you need.

No I understood Martin's blog, he says the 2-year time to complain granted by the EU is less than we are given by UK law: "we’ve got STRONGER rights here ... while it’s minimum 2 years, in the UK we actually get SIX years to do the same." I was saying that in my experience cited above with Sony, they didn't want to know about any problems reported within 2 years, and hence there is *no way* they would have listened to any complaint coming in 6 years after purchase. Yes I guess I could take them to court - but that is beyond my abilities.

ketteringjimmy

There is a little known EU ruling that does indeed give a MINIMUM 2 year guarantee on ALL consumer goods in the UK and not the 1 year that is fobbed off onto UK consumers. For clarity read page 7 of the following;

ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/guarantees/index_en.htm

This is 2 years on ALL consumer goods, irrelevant of the price paid or of any manufacturers 12 month guarantee, this MUST be honoured by the retailer as your legal contract exists between you and the retailer.

The next time you have a guarantee complaint take a copy of the 28 page eu document with you to prove your rights to a 2 year MANDATORY guarantee.

You only have 6 years if you can prove the item did not last a reasonable length of time, the burden of proof is upon you and you may have to take the case to court.:cool:

clintaughjl

The bottom line is whether or not anyone has the time and energy to challenge the retailer/provider, and, if necessary, issue court proceedings. I've done it a few times (only when I've felt there were grounds), and I've yet to attend a court hearing. On each occassion I've settled out of court, always to my satisfaction. The small claims procedure can be a very useful tool, but you need to be sure of your grounds, determined, and patient.

Strapped

ketteringjimmy wrote: »

There is a little known EU ruling that does indeed give a MINIMUM 2 year guarantee on ALL consumer goods in the UK and not the 1 year that is fobbed off onto UK consumers. For clarity read page 7 of the following;

ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/guarantees/index_en.htm

This is 2 years on ALL consumer goods, irrelevant of the price paid or of any manufacturers 12 month guarantee, this MUST be honoured by the retailer as your legal contract exists between you and the retailer.

The next time you have a guarantee complaint take a copy of the 28 page eu document with you to prove your rights to a 2 year MANDATORY guarantee.

You only have 6 years if you can prove the item did not last a reasonable length of time, the burden of proof is upon you and you may have to take the case to court.:cool:

And what if the goods are, say for arguement's sake, a fashion item not designed to last as long as two years? Surely the result of this directive is not that everything sold to consumers must last at least 2 years? :undecided

ChiefGrasscutter

ketteringjimmy wrote: »

There is a little known EU ruling that does indeed give a MINIMUM 2 year guarantee on ALL consumer goods in the UK and not the 1 year that is fobbed off onto UK consumers. For clarity read page 7 of the following;

ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/guarantees/index_en.htm

This is 2 years on ALL consumer goods, irrelevant of the price paid or of any manufacturers 12 month guarantee, this MUST be honoured by the retailer as your legal contract exists between you and the retailer.

The next time you have a guarantee complaint take a copy of the 28 page eu document with you to prove your rights to a 2 year MANDATORY guarantee.

You only have 6 years if you can prove the item did not last a reasonable length of time, the burden of proof is upon you and you may have to take the case to court.:cool:

I believe that the above quoted post is a correct and very clearly put precise explanation of the situation.

Mobeer

DebP1 wrote: »

...
Products which come with hefty price tags should have a longer manufacurers warrantee. Infact, i think Vauxhall are offering lifetime warrantees on new cars.
...

A warranty with lots of conditions:
- for 1 year and any mileage
- then for another 2 years, so long as mileage under 60,000
- then for mileage under 100,000, but only for the first owner

So sell a 3 year old car and it has no lifetime warranty