Ira Rheingold
Ira Rheingold, executive director and general counsel of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Washington, DC, a nonprofit that protects consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices. ConsumerAdvocates.org
Bottom Line: You can save a lot on repairing products ranging from a smartphone to a car
You dropped your smartphone and broke the screen—should you take it to a local repair shop that can fix it while you wait…or will that void the phone’s warranty? Your car needs repairs following an accident—can you opt for the “aftermarket” parts that cost less than the factory parts…or will that mess up your warranty coverage?
If you read the warranties covering many electronic devices, vehicles and other products, you’ll find warnings that the use of any nonmanufacturer parts or repair facilities will terminate the warranty. Some electronics even sport stickers warning that simply opening up the device will void its warranty.
Don’t believe it. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a stern warning to manufacturers reminding them that the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which has been in effect since 1975, prohibits such warranty restrictions in most cases. Exceptions: Manufacturers can impose the restrictions if they obtain a waiver from the FTC, which is rare…or if the parts and/or repair services that were obtained from a third party were offered for free by the manufacturer. Manufacturers also can decline to provide warranty service for a future problem if they can show that the problem was caused by faulty third-party parts or repairs.
What to do: If a product that still is under warranty requires repairs that would not be covered by the warranty—a cracked smartphone screen, for example—feel free to have the repairs done by an independent company using factory parts or aftermarket parts…and feel free to attempt the repairs yourself if you know you have that ability. Third-party repairs and aftermarket parts often are less expensive and faster to obtain than manufacturer repairs.
If the manufacturer later denies a warranty claim because of prior third-party parts or service, ask to speak to a supervisor and point out that this is prohibited by law and that the FTC has begun cracking down on companies that attempt to impose this restriction. Direct this supervisor to the FTC’s recent press release on the subject (BLInc.media/warranty).
If the manufacturer still won’t honor its warranty, report the company to the FTC’s Consumer Response Center (877-382-4357)…and to your state attorney general (www.NAAG.org).
