Q: I have purchased several appliances for my new aparment from a local supplier. When I asked about the commercial guarantee, the seller told me that I am entitled to a two-year guarantee, starting from the date of purchase. The guarantee given to me by the seller also states that it covers any defective parts resulting from a manufacturing defect and does not cover damages caused by wear and tear or misuse. It also states that parts made of glass are excluded from the guarantee.

Is the above information enough for the validity of the guarantee? In the document there is no reference to which appliances the guarantee is referring and also no serial numbers.

A: A commercial guarantee is given to consumers voluntarily by sellers when purchasing certain types of goods, such as in your case – household appliances.

It is in the consumer’s best interest to make sure that the commercial guarantee promised at the time of sale is made available in writing. Consumers should also check that the following information is included in the commercial guarantee’s documents:

• name and address of the guarantor;

• length of the commercial guarantee;

• description of goods and services covered by the guarantee;

• territorial scope of the guarantee if this is limited;

• how consumers can make a claim under the guarantee;

• remedies available under guarantee if there is a defect in the goods covered; and

• if the commercial guarantee can be availed of by subsequent owners.

Hence, you should go back to the seller and request that any missing information is included in the guarantee document.

As a consumer, you should also remember that the commercial guarantee given to you by the seller cannot diminish or negatively affect your legal rights.