Apple forced to change refund policy under new Australian Consumer law

Apple has got into trouble with the Australian regulator again.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has found that Apple’s warranty policies violated the new Australian law.

Under the new law, Apple is required to provide either a full refund, repair or replace products with a major failure and to offer free repairs, refunds or replacements for products with minor faults.

Apple warranty policies did not comply with this, as ACCC found that Apple only offered a full refund if the product was returned within two weeks, and it offered a refund or replacement if the products were damaged within a year of purchase.

Apple also did not take responsibility for non-Apple products sold through Apple stores; and offered a store credit rather than a full refund for faulty products. Apple will have to comply with the policies for non-Apple products as well that are sold through Apple stores.

Apple has also been asked to put the following note on its Australian website:

“If you believe that you have been denied a statutory right or remedy by Apple in the past in relation to a product sold to you by Apple or did not pursue a warranty claim because of representations made to you by Apple, please contact Apple … and your claim will be assessed.”

Apple has also promised to reassess all claims about faulty products purchased over the past two years starting on January 6.

Last year, Apple ran into issues with the Australian regulator over the naming of the iPad model with cellular capabilities, and was forced to change the name from “iPad Wi-Fi + 4G” to ”iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular.”

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]

Posted by Gautam on Dec 18, 2013 - iphonehacks.com