Apple Acknowledges Consumer Guarantees

Apple Australia has given the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) a Court enforceable undertaking after Apple staff informed customers that it was not necessarily required to provide a refund, replacement or repair for defective products and that there was a 14 day return policy as well as a 12 month limited manufacturer’s warranty. Apple has acknowledged that these representations “may” have contravened consumer guarantees in the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC said that any warranties provided by the retailer or manufacturer are in addition to the consumer guarantee rights in the Australian Consumer Law which cannot be removed. The ACCC stressed that consumer guarantees have no set expiry date and apply for the amount of time that is reasonable to expect given the cost and quality of the item and any representations made about it. Apple will now supply its own remedies for a period of 24 months from the date of purchase of one of its products.

December 2013