Eight firms were notified by FTC to revise warranty terms or face legal action.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warning letters to eight companies regarding warranty practices that may have infringed on consumers’ right to repair purchased products. The FTC staff expressed concerns that these practices violated the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA), which governs consumer product warranties.
“These warning letters put companies on notice that restricting consumers’ right to repair violates the law,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Commission will continue our efforts to protect consumers’ right to repair and independent dealers’ right to compete.”
The letters addressed to five companies, including Aeris Health, Blueair, Medify Air, Oransi, and InMovement, highlighted concerns about warranty conditions requiring the use of specific parts or service providers—generally prohibited unless provided for free or exempted by the FTC. Also, letters to ASRock, Zotac, and Gigabyte warned against “warranty void if removed” stickers that impede routine maintenance and repairs. The FTC urged all companies to review and amend their warranty and promotional materials and cautioned that failure to comply within 30 days could result in legal action.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the enforcement of fair practices that uphold consumers’ rights and ensure that companies comply with laws designed to protect those rights.
- For the leadership and management of the companies involved to be guided in making ethical decisions that align with legal standards.
- For the protection of consumers from deceptive and unfair practices.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission
