Is your brand-new refrigerator not keeping your food cold? Did you just buy a car under warranty that now has engine problems? Is the dishwasher you just got from Home Depot not cleaning the dishes?
As someone just trying to make ends meet and live your life, it can be incredibly frustrating to buy something as expensive as a car, truck, refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, RV, or mobile home to find out that it isn’t working properly. When you buy a household appliance or a vehicle, you expect it to work as advertised!
If the product you purchased came with a warranty – either written or implied – federal law protects you if it doesn’t work as promised. If you brought in your new appliance or vehicle for repairs more than once, the repairs didn’t work, and you didn’t get a refund or a replacement, you might have a breach of warranty claim.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and You
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a federal law enacted in 1975, protects consumers who have purchased defective products for personal, family, and household use.
This federal law specifically covers mechanical consumer products that cost more than $10 with a written warranty. This includes such big ticket items as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and even vehicles. Magnuson-Moss also requires companies to give consumers detailed information about their warranties. This lets people better decide what to buy, weighing the terms of the warranty with price and features.
When Do I Have a Case?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act helps consumers who have tried to repair their product(s) multiple times during the warranty period. If the product still doesn’t work after several repair attempts (three is a safe bet), the warranty is considered breached. A consumer can then receive either a replacement or a full refund.
Consumers may also get a refund if they can’t use their product for a total of 30 days due to repairs. If the manufacturer doesn’t comply with the law and refuses to give a replacement or refund, the consumer can file a breach of warranty lawsuit.
How Can I Afford This?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a “fee-shifting” statute. In situations where a consumer wins in a breach of warranty lawsuit, the manufacturer can be forced to pay for the consumer’s legal fees and costs. If our attorneys take your case, our fee will most likely come from the manufacturer.
How Do I Get Started?
Call our office today at (412) 378-5854 or book a free 15-minute consultation at our Contact Me page. We look forward to speaking with you, and seeing if we can help.
