Consumer Protection Law Facts

Warranties... Guarantees... And Your Rights

Warranties and guarantees are a manufacturer’s or seller’s promise to stand behind its product or service. On most major products, warranties must be:

Easy to read and understand.

Available for consumers to look at before they buy the products.

Labeled either “Full” or “Limited.”

A full warranty means:

A defective product will be fixed or replaced free of charge within a reasonable time.

Consumers will not have to do anything unreasonable to get warranty service.

If the product cannot be fixed, the consumer gets the choice of receiving a new product or a full refund.

The warranty is good for anyone who owns the product during the warranty period.

A limited warranty is anything that provides less coverage than a full warranty.

A limited warranty may:

Cover only parts and not labor.

Cover only the initial owner.

Allow charges for handling.

Require you to return the product to the store.

Implied warranties
While a product might not have a written warranty, under state law, consumers are guaranteed certain implied warranties. A “warranty of merchantability” comes automatically with every sale and is the seller’s promise that a product is fit for its ordinary use. A “warranty of fitness for a particular purpose” is created if a consumer buys a product relying on the seller’s advice that it can be used for a particular purpose.

1. Before hiring a home improvement contractor, check out the person's references, make sure they have a local, fixed address, and always get a written contract that explains the terms of your agreement.

2. If someone promises you that you are guaranteed to get a loan or other credit, and asks for a fee in advance, don't do it!! It's against the law to charge an up-front fee (except for a credit report and appraisal for a mortgage).

3. Watch out for the real cost of magazines being sold by telephone or door-to-door they are usually very expensive. Get a copy of a written contract before you agree.

4. If you don't know who the person on the other end of the phone really is, do not give out your credit card or bank account number unless you are sure you want to buy. Never give out your credit card or bank account number unless you are sure the person you are speaking with represents the company or group you choose to do business with.

Contact our Rhode Island Consumer Protection lawyer today and get a free consultation!

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