Apple is being threatened with yet more fines in Italy for not making it clear that local customers have a free two-year warranty. The company may face paying another €300,000 in fines, already having been hit with a fine for €900,000 due to the lack of clarity.
Under Italian law consumers purchasing electronic products and other durable goods have the right to get two years free assistance. Apple offers a free one-year guarantee scheme but offers customers the option to buy Apple Care that extends protection to two years. The Italian court took issue with the fact that Apple is encouraging customers to buy the Apple Care service without explaining that the company is obliged to offer a free two-year warranty.
After Apple was charged in the Italian courts with violating a European law that states that companies should offer a free two-year warranty, the company updated its website with details of the warranties that allow for the repair of products for up to two years after purchase.
The company made the difference between warranties and guarantees clear. Indicating that all customers get one year’s free guarantee that entitles them to free repair or replacement coverage for defects that emerge after the purchase of the product. In addition consumers purchasing the extra Apple Care cover get repair or replacement coverage for defects that emerge after the purchase of the product for two to three years. Apple explains that the two-year warrantee is available to all, but only covers defects that existed at the time the product was purchased.
However, according to Reuters’ sources, the company has failed to comply with the antitrust request and may be fined an additional €300,000.
“The antitrust (authority) has opened a procedure of non-compliance against Apple, complaining about two unlawful practices,” the source told Reuters.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.