Consumer guarantees

Warranties and guarantees give you the right to make a legal claim against the person issuing them (the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 defines a guarantee as a contract).

This means that if the manufacturer refuses to honour the warranty or guarantee, you can take them to court to force them to meet their promises.

For example, if the company that issued the warranty will not carry out a repair within a reasonable time when the guarantee says it will, you could sue for the cost of employing someone else to put the problem right.

However, it is important to remember that both warranties and guarantees are in addition to your statutory rights under either the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) or the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (as amended).

If you have problems with goods or services, it is best to go back to the company from which you bought them, as the law considers them to be responsible for any problems under their contract with you.

See our leaflets on 'Buying Goods' and 'Buying Services' for more information on your rights under contract law.