Under certain circumstances, especially when the consumer has used a product for something other than its intended purpose, a merchant may choose not to honor the terms of a warranty by declaring it void. But sometimes merchants may attempt to void a warranty for reasons that are strictly prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a federal law governing most consumer purchases in the U.S., or various state laws.
While the federal act establishes a groundwork for U.S. consumers, state laws add another layer and often more protections for consumers. Even if your written warranty is voided, you may be protected by an implied warranty.
This article focuses on how a merchant may or may not void a warranty. See "Product Warranties and Returns" for more articles about your warranty rights as a consumer.
The best way to protect your interests and avoid having your warranty invalidated is to fully understand the terms of your warranty, reading the fine print if it is a limited warranty. Full warranties are much less common than limited ones and are legally required to cover all repairs or replacements pertaining to defects within the warranty period.
Therefore, reasons for voiding a limited warranty usually vary with the manufacturer or individual product. Understanding the conditions and limitations of a warranty will usually inform you of when the warranty can and cannot be invalidated. It's also advisable to save your receipt, which may be the only record of the sale.
Ask yourself the following questions when making a major purchase:
Below are some of the most common reasons warranties are invalidated by merchants:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which enforces federal consumer laws, states that merchants may not require consumers to fill out a registration card in order to take advantage of a full warranty's protections. While very few limitations may be placed on full warranties, the exact limits of limited warranties must be clearly stated for the consumer.
Below are examples of additional warranty restrictions or conditions the FTC considers unreasonable, for which failure to comply cannot be used as reasons to invalidate a warranty:
Merchants in certain states may not invalidate an implied warranty by using the phrases "sold as is" or "with all faults," as is allowed in other states. See "What is an Implied Warranty?" for more information. The FTC's "Facts for Consumers: Warranties" also provides useful information.
The terms of limited warranties differ from one company to the next, and sometimes even within one company's product line. The following examples illustrate this diversity:
Contact a qualified attorney to assist with any issues related to consumer transactions.