Q: I just bought a bed and a mattress from a local seller. During the sale, I was promised a five-year commercial guarantee but nowhere on the receipts or purchase order do I have it written.

When I asked for some kind of proof of the guarantee, I was told such a guarantee is never listed on paper since the mattress and bed do not carry an identification number. I was simply told to present the proof of purchase should a problem crop up.

Can I insist on being given the five-year commercial guarantee in writing by the seller?

A: If the seller promised you a five-year commercial guarantee, then you must be given one in writing. Consumer law clearly stipulates that a commercial guarantee is to be drawn up in writing, in a clear manner, in Maltese or English. The guarantee should also include its duration, what it covers and what the guarantor undertakes to do in case of a problem.

You have every right to insist on bieng given the commercial guarantee in writing. If the seller refuses, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.