From the BBC: Clicky

Some interesting things here both in the main article and in the Comments section below.

In other news, the length of time you will be able to claim an item did not last "for a reasonable time" or was not of "satisfactory quality" is about to be reduced from 6 years to 2.

EDIT: Finally, after much searching and gnashing of teeth, I found the reference:



http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/11 ... check_box/

Germany has real problems with "lifetime guarantee"! A couple of companies came a cropper here, offering lifetime guarantees. The consumer association told them they couldn't claim that, because they couldn't guarantee that they could replace the device in the lifetime of the owner (Leatherman was one of those affected).

In the end, Leatherman said "fine, you have a 2 year guarantee, after that, send it to us and we'll repair it for free." Customer and common sense win!

I used the Sale of Goods act to return a faulty 22 month old camera. I was charged 10% for 'fair usage' or some such term. Not too shabby though. The assitant I spoke to though thought I was nuts when I explained I could bring the camera back. "You can only bring it back in the first year" she kept telling me. Er.... no.

Reading through some of the comments on the website there's one angry that made me chuckle. He said he bought an ink cartridge and when he opened it (the foil seal) and tried to put it in the printer he realised it was the wrong one. He took it back to the shop and they wouldnt give him his momey back. He claimed he'd been ripped off! Surely he could have 1) checked the model number 2) asked in the shop for the right one 3) checked the packaging when he got home?