Fridge/freezer guarantee query

Q: About a year ago I purchased a fridge/freezer with a five-year commercial guarantee. A few weeks ago I received a letter from the company informing me that for the commercial guarantee to remain valid I have to service the appliance on a yearly basis.

In the first year, the cost of the service is €25 and then it's €18 every year. When I purchased the fridge, the trader did not inform me about this service. Am I obliged to pay for this service? If I refuse such service, do I lose the commercial guarantee?

A: A commercial guarantee is given voluntarily by the trader. However, once given it must be made available in writing and its terms and conditions should be set out in plain language so that it is easily understood by the consumer.

Sometimes such guarantees come with conditions, and if these are not observed, the commercial guarantee could be invalidated. In your case, the condition is not unfair and hence not illegal.

But it should be clearly written in the original guarantee document. If this is not the case, and if no reference to a service is made in the commercial guarantee, then the trader cannot impose the condition on you.

My advice is to look up the document of the commercial guarantee and carefully read all the terms and conditions.

If this maintenance service is not mentioned, then you cannot be forced to pay for the service to protect your guarantee and your guarantee cannot be invalidated.