Faulty products must be replaced even after warranty

Consumers buying faulty products from the local market can have them replaced even after the warranty period expires in case they could not be repaired, according to the Ministry of Economy which warned violating firms of a Dh100,000 fine.

A Ministry official said factory-defective products must be either repaired or replaced no matter when they are sold and that consumers must not bear any expenses.

“Repairing products which have factory defects is the responsibility of the dealer or the importing company even after the warranty period expires,” said Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the consumer protection division at the Ministry.

“Companies selling faulty items must be committed to repairing or replacing them no matter when they are bought by the consumers…any company which refuses to replace such a product will be fined up to Dh100,000,” he told Emirat Alyoum daily.

He said the Ministry of Economy had intervened many times to force local manufacturers or dealers to replace faulty items years after they were sold.

“A factory defect has nothing to do with the misuse of a product…the Ministry will intervene anytime and anywhere…in one case, the Ministry interfered in such a case nearly 10 years after the product was bought by a consumer,” he said.

He said the Ministry often resorts to tackling such disputes between the consumers and dealers cordially before resorting to legal experts.

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