EU legacy 2 year consumer rights cover

Straightbat

Does EU 2 year consumer rights cover apply to products bought in the UK within the last two years, if they were bought before January 2021 when we were still under unchanged EU rules during the transition period (i.e. between June and December 2021)?

Manxman_in_exile

What two year "consumer rights" cover are you talking about?

I thought EU "rules" and directives only ever had any force in this country insofar as they were adopted in domestic legislation.

Do either of these say anything about cover for two years?

Consumer Rights Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (legislation.gov.uk)

Sandtree

Straightbat said:

Does EU 2 year consumer rights cover apply to products bought in the UK within the last two years, if they were bought before January 2021 when we were still under unchanged EU rules during the transition period (i.e. between June and December 2021)?

No, because they never did. In the UK we had SOGA and now have CRA which provides better consumer protection than a 2 year waranty (in general)

Straightbat

Manxman, apparently about a decade ago Apple had to concede their liability to guarantee products for two 2 years under EU legislation.  Some retailers offer 2 years on their products anyway including Apple themselves of course, but I bought my iPad Mini from Currys where it only had one year cover.  Now it won't even switch on despite having sustained no damage or mistreatment, having only ever been charged with supplied charger and lead, and not having been opened up.  Apple themselves have diagnosed it as irrepairable, although a local tech shop has quoted me (it was they who told me about the 2-year cover had we been in the EU and I checked it out).

Gycraig

Straightbat said:

Manxman, apparently about a decade ago Apple had to concede their liability to guarantee products for two 2 years under EU legislation.  Some retailers offer 2 years on their products anyway including Apple themselves of course, but I bought my iPad Mini from Currys where it only had one year cover.  Now it won't even switch on despite having sustained no damage or mistreatment, having only ever been charged with supplied charger and lead, and not having been opened up.  Apple themselves have diagnosed it as irrepairable, although a local tech shop has quoted me (it was they who told me about the 2-year cover had we been in the EU and I checked it out).

Was never a thing, I worked for Carphone warehouse about 6-7 years and apple goods only came with a 1 year warranty back then.

I would be pushing curry’s on  the consumer rights act though, a product last less than 2 years with no damage is a bit of a joke. 

Admiral_Barbarossa

Straightbat said:

Manxman, apparently about a decade ago Apple had to concede their liability to guarantee products for two 2 years under EU legislation.  Some retailers offer 2 years on their products anyway including Apple themselves of course, but I bought my iPad Mini from Currys where it only had one year cover.  Now it won't even switch on despite having sustained no damage or mistreatment, having only ever been charged with supplied charger and lead, and not having been opened up.  Apple themselves have diagnosed it as irrepairable, although a local tech shop has quoted me (it was they who told me about the 2-year cover had we been in the EU and I checked it out).

Asfar as I am aware, Apple offer a 2 year limited warranty! It has nothing to do with some supposed EU 2 year thing!

Straightbat

Admiral:

Only if you buy from them or certain retailers (John Lewis for example - I think theirs may be by arrangement with Apple). 

unholyangel

The EU directive giving 2 years "warranty" was directly transposed into UK law, first under SOGA, then under CRA 2015. So it remains enforceable today. 

But we did not need to include the 2 year period, as the limitation periods in both England and Scotland for breach of simple contract already exceeded the minimum period to be given.

The directive only stated that a minimum of 2 years warranty (that is how long your rights are legally enforceable and not like a manufacturers warranty) should not expire before a period of 2 years. It does not mean all goods need to last 2 years, or that retailers or manufacturers must provide you free repairs or replacements for any reason within 2 years. 

Manxman_in_exile

Straightbat said:

Manxman, apparently about a decade ago Apple had to concede their liability to guarantee products for two 2 years under EU legislation...

Not in this country.  As I posted earlier, EU "rules" have only ever had effect in this country insofar as they have been reflected in domestic legislation.  I gave links to the most relevant current legislation in that earler post.

Without getting into too much unnecessary detail, if an item you have purchased develops a fault within 6 months of purchase - a fault that you have not contributed to - then there is a presumption that the item was faulty when you bought it, and you can get a replacement or refund from the retailer.

If a fault manifests itself after 6 months post-purchase, then you as the consumer will have to present evidence that the fault was latent or present at purchase (eg caused by a manufacturing fault or faulty or substandard materials or components).  If you can do that you can get a partial refund.

After 6 years from purchase you basically have no legal remedies.  Note that this is not the same as saying that goods must last for 6 years - that depends on the circumstances.

If manufacturers or retailers want to give you warranty rights over and above your statutory rights, then that is up to them and the extent of those rights depend on the terms and conditions of the warranty.

There is not and never has been a two year EU warranty in this country.  It is generally considered that the 2015 Consumer Rights Act gives a higher level of protection anyway.

powerful_Rogue

I replied to the thread you posted the other day - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79233653

The repair shop are talking nonsense. There has never been a '2 year EU warranty' - well not in the sense people think. Martin Lewis has explained that here  - https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2010/12/the-eu-goods-must-last-a-minimum-two-years-rule-is-a-myth/

Moving on from that, you also don't have six year cover. You have six years to make a claim. To do this you will need to get a report advisin that the fault was present when purchased, but the device has now failed due to that fault. Take the report back to the retailer you purchased from and they then have to repair, replace or refund. The choice is that of the retailer. If they offer a refund, they can deduct a percentage based on the 18 months use you have had.

Straightbat

powerful thanks... I couldn't find the first post I thought I must have done something wrong when posting!

I note your link to ML's comments (I haven't clicked on it yet although I will, but I think I've grasped the issues now) but it seems this aspect of consumer protection needs to be highlighted more upfront on his site.