Q: Can I claim compensation for clothing damaged by a laundry?

A: Yes, you may hold the laundry responsible for damages that might have been caused to your clothes during the cleaning process. Before doing so, make sure that the damage was not already there when you took the garments for cleaning.

When such problems arise, as a consumer you are entitled to either have the damaged repaired or the clothing item replaced.

If neither remedy is possible, you can claim monetary compensation. The amount of compensation usually depends on how much you paid for the garment when you purchased it and for how long you had it before it got ruined.

The first thing you should do is speak to the laundry owner and try to solve the issue amicably. If the laundry does not accept liability and refuses to give you any form of compensation that is acceptable to you, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.