Six years
Complaints can be brought to court up to six years after a sale
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and five years after the
time of the discovery of the problem in Scotland). After that time,
the Limitation Act 1980 generally prevents court cases being brought.
This does not mean that goods have to last six years or they should
not go wrong during this period; it is not a durability requirement.
A consumer could bring a case against a retailer, alleging non-conformity
of contract, for up to six years after the sale. However, he would
find a court unsympathetic in the latter years for low cost items
that it was reasonable to expect to last only a short period (a
£15 toaster might not last many years but a £200 one
should) or for consumables like batteries and bulbs which have a
specified limited life span.
Similarly, when a remote control stops because a battery has come
to the end of its life – assuming it had lasted a reasonable
time - there are no grounds for complaint that the remote control
is not conforming to contract.
The Two-Year Guarantee Myth
In the UK there is no legislation that says retailers must provide a two-year
guarantee.
This was legislation proposed by the European Commission but was never enacted into UK law. |
