New electronics sales bills in UAE

The UAE will begin enforcing a new binding electronics invoice that will give more protection to consumers at the start of 2016, the press reported on Monday.

The new invoice which will be given by local agents, distributors, suppliers and retail sellers, will include a clear date of purchase, guarantee and warranty for the product, and other post-sale support services, the papers said, quoting Hashim Al Nuaimi, Consumer Protection Director at the Ministry of Economy.

He said the new invoice, which was enforced on a trial basis this year, is in line with a decision issued by Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansoori with the aim of protecting consumers and ensuring discipline in the market.

“This invoice is binding. All sellers are committed to provide post-sales services, including guarantee and warranty for the product, maintenance, repair and return of the product by the buyer in case it is found to be faulty,” he said.

He said sellers would also be committed to informing buyers about all invoice terms and issuing an invoice that will include details of the product and the seller’s stamp.

“This invoice will be enforced in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, the departments of economy in the emirates and the products agencies,” he said.

He noted that the new invoice also commits the seller to provide a spare product to the buyer while the original product is being repaired or maintained, adding that the new rule gives the seller a maximum repair period of 15 days.

He also said sellers must inform the buyers in case certain sold products do not have warranty before the deal is completed, adding that it must be in both Arabic and English and carry the dealer’s stamp.