The minimum warranty period for electronic devices has been extended from last January 1 to three years. This is one of the main novelties of the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users (TRLGDCU), which also extends the time in which users can request the repair of their technological devices.
The legal guarantee of the products Its purpose is to protect the consumer from factory defects, premature problems in the device, or mismatches in terms of the promised product, forcing the seller to solve those failures. By extending the warranty period, not only is it intended to increase the rights of consumers, but it is also intended to achieve greater sustainability and promote the circular economy in the technology sector.
José García Martínez, CEO of Anovo, a reverse logistics company in the technology sector, states that “We have to collaborate in protecting the environment. This new measure invites us to reuse instead of acquiring new products, which is a way of acting that is gradually penetrating our society and that will be reinforced with the new regulations”. And it is precisely at this point that the repair of electronic devices comes to play a key role.
New options for consumers
In the case of acquiring new devices, Anovo recommends that users, before using them for the first time, read the manufacturer’s warranty conditions so that they can get the most out of them, as well as that they are interested in knowing the legal guarantee in case they need to make use of it.
Likewise, the law also contemplates the increase in the life cycle of technological products thanks to the extension of the obligatory reparability period, which will go from five to 10 years. In this way, the provision of technical service for the necessary spare parts is ensured for a longer period of time since the good has ceased to be manufactured.
New provisions in the law
On the other hand, the law establishes for the first time that a two-year guarantee is applied to both content and digital services. This section includes computer programs, applications, digital games, electronic books and other electronic publications.
Another deadline that has been affected is nonconformityestablishing in three years the time in which the client will have the right to choose between the repair or replacement of the product, taking into account its durability, that is, the ability of the good to maintain its mandatory functions and performance under normal conditions.
“This regulation will have quite an impact in many areas. We believe that now more than ever it will be decided to repair at an official SAT to maintain the guarantee for the entire period that remains of the three years”says the CEO of Anovo.
Consequences of the new regulations
This reform will directly affect consumers’ decisions when choosing between repair or buy. This is also stated by José García: ”There will be users who still prefer to get the latest model, but many will surely keep their devices for longer. And even more so considering that if they are damaged and they go to the official technical service they can, as long as the fault is covered by the guarantee, repair it free of charge during the first three years.”
In order to exercise the right to guarantee, it is essential keep the purchase receipt, invoice or delivery note, as well as contact the seller, who must assume said guarantee, leaving a record of the incident.
