Tue, 03 Apr 2012 EU law forces Apple to highlight two-year warranty

Apple has updated its website with details of European warranties that allow for the repair of products for up to two years after purchase, to bring the company into line with European law.

In March, Apple appeared in Italian courts charged with violating a European law that states that companies should offer a free two-year warranty for faulty products - Apple was criticised for selling AppleCare policies to customers and not making it clear to customers that the law already covered faulty products for two years. Apple was fined €900,000. The company is appealing the fine, and this will be heard in May. Consumer groups in Germany, The Netherlands and Spain, also asked regulators to get Apple to change its warranty offering. (Continues below...) 

Apple offers a one-year limited warranty for free, but customers were invited to pay for AppleCare for protection in the second and third year. The company attracted criticism for making customers pay for AppleCare when the two-year warranty required by law in Europe should have covered them. In fact, it did cover them, if they chose to pursue it. Apple was found guilty of misleading customers by suggesting selling a three-year protection plan on a product that is technically covered for two years.

Apple has now posted an explanation in the legal section of its website. The company says:  “When you purchase Apple products, European Union consumer law provides statutory warranty rights in addition to the coverage you receive from the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty and the optional AppleCare Protection Plan. Non-Apple-branded products purchased from Apple are also eligible for coverage under EU consumer law.”

The company goes on to summarise the differences between the EU Statutory Warranty, the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty, and the AppleCare Protection Plan. The distinctions here are attracting yet more criticism.

Under EU law Apple now offers to repair or replace a product within two years if “Defects present when customer takes delivery”.

Under the company’s own one-year limited warranty it will repair or replace a product if “Defects arising after customer takes delivery”. This is available for one year from the date of purchase.

And under the AppleCare Protection Plan, Apple will repair or replace a product if “Defects arising after customer takes delivery”. This is available within three years of delivery of a Mac or Apple display, or two years after delivery of a Apple TV, iPad, iPhone or iPod.

It is the distinction between when and after that is causing concern, with many pointing to the fact that many issues arise some time after delivery but are not caused by the user.