June e'Newsletter
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Consumer Guarantees Update
The new system of statutory consumer guarantees in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) has been in force now for almost six months. In the series of articles below, HWL Ebsworth’s Competition and Consumer team looks at some of the important practical consequences we are seeing from the new system and provides some reminders of impending deadlines for new requirements.
1. New requirements for manufacturers’ warranties
From the end of this year all express warranty statements (including the warranty statements in product packaging) must include a range of statutory information. If you manufacture or import products to Australia, you need to be getting ready now. This article provides an overview of the requirements.
Click here to read article.
2. Repair notices required from 1 July
From 1 July 2011 statutory notices must be given to customers before their products are accepted for repair in certain circumstances. Does your business comply?
Click here to read article.
3. Consumer Guarantees – When can consumers claim refunds?
The Federal Government promised the business community that the new scheme of statutory guarantees and remedies would do no more than restate the old law in simpler language. Businesses are increasingly discovering, however, that this is not the case. Failures in some products may give consumers a right to claim a full refund, even if it is easily repairable. Product safety recalls may also trigger a right for consumers to claim refunds, even if the fault is easily repairable. This detailed analysis summarises the new regime and looks at these issues in greater depth.
Click here to read article.
4. Handling consumer guarantee claims
The new statutory consumer guarantees, along with increased consumer awareness, are leading to an increase in consumer claims on businesses. We discuss some of the pitfalls to avoid when dealing with these claims.
Click here to read article.
For further information please contact:
For information on our Competition & Consumer Group click here. |
