Apple Criticized for Misleading Customers on Warranties in 11 Countries

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Posted March 19, 2012 at 5:40pm by iClarified

Consumer groups in eleven countries have written letters to national regulators asking them to put a stop to Apple's misleading advertising on product warranties.

Apple products say they come with a one-year warranty when European Union law says they must cover goods for two years. Consumer groups say Apple is misleading customers into purchasing extended warranties when they are already covered by law.

Bloomberg notes that Apple has already been fined $1.18 million in Italy but plans to challenge that ruling.

Apple will challenge a 900,000-euro ($1.18 million) fine from the Italian competition regulator at a March 21 hearing. The regulator in December said Apple breached EU legislation for unfair commercial practices and misled consumers by "prominently advertising" that its products have a one-year manufacturer warranty, and through the sale of its "AppleCare Protection Plan" warranty extension.

"Consumers should not be misled and confused as to fundamental EU consumer rights because a company wants to sell their commercial warranty services," Monique Goyens, director general of the European Consumer Organization.

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Apple Criticized for Misleading Customers on Warranties in 11 Countries

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tatu - March 23, 2012 at 1:47pm

I once called Apple customer support to claim a repair after the one year warranty offered officially by apple in the Netherlands. A very kind woman told me that I will have to pay for it because my year of warranty was over. I inform her that by law I have the right to get 2 years warranty and without hesitation she gave the authororization for the repair. Later that year I met a guy who used to work for Apple customer service in Ireland and told me that the policy is to deny warranty repairs after the first year. If the customers mentioned about the EU law that covers for 2 years then they were instructed to authorize the repair. This to me is a very conning attitude towards the customer. That means that they will rip you off if they can. shame on Apple!

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Norup58 - March 20, 2012 at 6:30am

What's your point?? If anyone is a stickler for wanting people to follow their rules is Apple. As the EU consumer has 2 years warranty on all items purchased then Apple has to abide by this legislation if the iDevice is purchased from Apple directly. Apple can sell their products through third parties and avoid the 2 years warranty but the third party is then responsible for the 2 year warranty. It is a consumer right!

NoGoodNick - March 19, 2012 at 9:43pm

Yeah, we American's wouldn't mind them offering a valid warrantly here, either. By the way, you'll need that warrenty for the batteries, which have been known to balloon to 3-5 times their designed size, breaking the displays. Apple is pretty good about taking care of them, though people should be aware of the problem.

Roberto Cocchiararo - March 19, 2012 at 6:21pm

Here in Argentina, i bought an iPhone4 (from my Carrier, Personal), and nearing the end of my 1 year warranty my home button started to fail. Apple Sanctioned warranty places (there are no apple stores here) refused to take it (not even if i wanted to pay) because they said that apple ordered Iphones to only be repaired/replaced by the carriers (other Apple products have warranty). My Carrier said that since Argentina stoped Apple imports, they had no iPhones for replacement, nor could they fix mine :/

A fix to that - March 19, 2012 at 6:50pm

Call apple care and they should be able to send you out another one. Explain your situation

Roberto Cocchiararo - March 19, 2012 at 7:29pm

Call where ? how ? (i have to add, that only phone models are not being imported here)