My quest for a reasonably-priced notebook online has taken me to plenty of sites where they tried to make me pay for having my new baby insured against defects. This has made me very
because in the European Union consumers are already very well protected by law against faulty products.
Yes, a piece of EU legislation, the
Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees Directive (1999), has already been implemented by Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
As a result of this legislation, all consumers, who buy goods in one of those countries, have the right to a minimum guarantee of six months on products. Within the first six months of purchase, any lack of conformity or defect shall be presumed to have existed at the time of delivery, unless proved otherwise.
Within this period the consumer is entitled to have the goods brought into conformity free of charge. The consumer is entitled to ask for the goods to be repaired or replaced free of charge.
Moreover, after this initial six-month period the consumers are still protected against faulty products. Within two years from delivery of the goods the trader still can be held liable for any lack of conformity. It should be noted, however, that after the first six months, it is up to the consumer to prove that the lack of conformity existed at the time of delivery.
Voluntary guarantees given by a producer do not restrict the statutory rights of consumers.
(Taken from "
SHOPPING IN EUROPE GUIDE", from the European Consumer Centre (ECC) in Luxembourg)
More information in English and links to ECCs in other countries is available from the
UK European Consumer Centre.
Consumer rights in the European Union
