A consumer organization in Belgium has filed a lawsuit against Apple over the company's one-year warranty, alleging a violation of local and European legislation that protects consumers with a two-year warranty on all electronic devices, such as Apple products, while also accusing the company of deliberately failing to inform the public about their rights.
As is well known, Apple offers a one-year warranty on its products, while also offering consumers the option to extend it through AppleCare programs. This practice has been the focus of harsh criticism several times in the past, having emerged as a major problem/irritation, especially in countries where Apple does not have an official Apple Store presence, such as Greece.
However, even in countries where the company has an official presence, trouble has not been avoided. Specifically, in Italy, a fine of €900,000 was recently imposed for non-compliance with the two-year warranty, leading the company to publish a clarification note on its website, the subsequent withdrawal of AppleCare packages from store shelves and the imposition of a new fine.
Belgium is not, however, the only country where consumers have taken legal action against Apple. Portugal, following the developments in Italy, also intended to take legal action, while Apple's practices have attracted the attention of the European Commission.
