Warranty void stickers 'not valid' in US, says FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it had written to six companies to warn them about using misleading language.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43724348

FTC staff has requested that each company review its promotional and warranty materials to ensure that such materials do not state or imply that warranty coverage is conditioned on the use of specific parts of services. In addition, FTC staff requests that each company revise its practices to comply with the law. The letters state that FTC staff will review the companies’ websites after 30 days and that failure to correct any potential violations may result in law enforcement action.

https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/...y-void-if-removed-stickers-are-flatly-illegal

 

Good, hope that our governments can do the same.

 

Even though I am aware that this will have some consequences that aren't really positive, I still have to say that I like this development. Giving people more control over their hardware is always a good thing.

 

Duplicate, please delete.

 

Well, it's about time. It never has been legal, but it's nice to see a line drawn in the sand by an authority like the FTC. Only the evil snakes and dishonest shysters ever tried to enforce this stupid Nazi control freak crap as an excuse to shirk their obligations under a warranty.

 

@Vistar Shook , I didn't see your thread already started - thanks to @Dr. AMK for letting me know.

It's a good thing to get some control back of our own purchases and be able to work on them. I hope this is a sign toward more control of our privacy as well. The FTC needs to take more action to protect us consumers.

I posted this info in another thread, more articles and comments to check out:

FTC makes clear 'warranty void if removed' stickers are illegal
Companies can't prevent you from getting your device fixed by a third party.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/11/ftc-warranty-warning/

"FTC makes clear 'warranty void if removed' stickers are illegal. ... The FTC has just made clear, however, that those warranty notices are illegal when it fired off warning letters to six companies that market and sell automobiles, mobile devices and video game consoles in the US. - 19 hours ago"

Warranty Void Stickers Are Illegal
https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/8bl86f/warranty_void_stickers_are_illegal/

" alternate-source-bot - Here are some other articles about this story:

• gizmodo.com: None
• alphr.com: Regulators state that “warranty void if removed” stickers are absolute nonsense
• extremetech.com: FTC Warns Companies 'Warranty Void if Removed' Stickers Are Flatly Illegal
• fortune.com: FTC Confirms What We Suspected All Along: Those 'Warranty Void If Removed' Stickers Are No Good
• zdnet.com: FTC warns phone makers: It's illegal to void warranties over third-party parts
• hexus.net: 'Warranty Void if Removed' stickers illegal warns FTC
• trustedreviews.com: In the US? It's probably safe to ignore those warranty voiding stickers
• The Inquirer: FTC warns big tech firms to stop voiding warranties for 'unauthorised' repairs
• BBC: Warranty void stickers 'not valid' in US, says FTC
• Engadget: FTC makes clear 'warranty void if removed' stickers are illegal
• pcmag.com: FTC: You Can't Void a Warranty by Breaking a Seal | News & Opinion
• motherboard.vice.com: FTC Says 'Warranty Void If Removed' Stickers Are ********, Warns Manufacturers They're Breaking the Law "

FTC Staff Warns Companies that It Is Illegal to Condition Warranty Coverage on the Use of Specified Parts or Services
April 10, 2018
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...panies-it-illegal-condition-warranty-coverage

"TAGS:

• Retail
• Bureau of Consumer Protection
• Consumer Protection

The Federal Trade Commission staff has sent warning letters to six major companies that market and sell automobiles, cellular devices, and video gaming systems in the United States.

The letters warn that FTC staff has concerns about the companies’ statements that consumers must use specified parts or service providers to keep their warranties intact. Unless warrantors provide the parts or services for free or receive a waiver from the FTC, such statements generally are prohibited by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a law that governs consumer product warranties. Similarly, such statements may be deceptive under the FTC Act.

Each company used different language, but here are examples of questionable provisions:

• The use of [company name] parts is required to keep your . . . manufacturer’s warranties and any extended warranties intact.
• This warranty shall not apply if this product . . . is used with products not sold or licensed by [company name].
• This warranty does not apply if this product . . . has had the warranty seal on the [product] altered, defaced, or removed.

“Provisions that tie warranty coverage to the use of particular products or services harm both consumers who pay more for them as well as the small businesses who offer competing products and services,” said Thomas B. Pahl, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

FTC staff has requested that each company review its promotional and warranty materials to ensure that such materials do not state or imply that warranty coverage is conditioned on the use of specific parts of services. In addition, FTC staff requests that each company revise its practices to comply with the law. The letters state that FTC staff will review the companies’ websites after 30 days and that failure to correct any potential violations may result in law enforcement action.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook(link is external), follow us on Twitter(link is external), read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS:
Consumer Response Center
877-382-4357

CONTACT FOR NEWS MEDIA:
Frank Dorman(link sends e-mail)
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2674

STAFF CONTACT:
Christine Todaro
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3711

 

LOL... it's still true in both places. Nice to have the FTC giving us some muscle to work with when a company wants to use their chintzy decals as a lame excuse to try to screw us over.

I think the control for consumers was always there and often not realized, as deception has too often been an effective means of fostering monopolies... using fear and intimidation as a tool to coerce repairs by an "authorized repair facility" needed to be squashed by the FTC. Long overdue, but welcomed, press release to bring clarity to the situation. Maybe now this kind of abuse will end sooner than later. The implications are broad, as it applies to LOTS of things. Cars, heavy equipment and construction machinery, farming equipment, consumer electronics, household appliances, and an almost endless list of industries have engaged in this arm-twisting nonsense for a long time. The question is now whether or not manufacturers will continue limit the availability of wholesale parts to authorized distribution centers and repair depots. With respect to proprietary parts and components, the end result might be similar in spite of this FTC clarification. Aftermarket parts is the only thing that has minimized this abuse in the automotive industry.

 

Looks like Apple didn't get the FTC Memo.

Apple released iOS 11.3 at the end of March, and the update is killing touch functionality in iPhone 8s repaired with some aftermarket screens that worked prior to the update.

“Customers are annoyed and it seems like Apple is doing this to prevent customers from doing 3rd party repair.”

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/59jwvz/iphone-8-aftermarket-touchscreens-ios-update

 

Does it void a warranty if you take off the black circles that cover the screws? There were only (2)

 

Well, I guess if you are in the US then no, according to the new ruling, but that might take a while to go into effect and come to the attention of your provider.

The sticker they are talking about actually has wording on it, something like "warranty void if removed", I don't think those little stickers are big enough to have words.

It may just be that maker has those stickers on there to keep dirt out and screws in, sometimes they work loose and drop out, so the stickers keep them in the socket during transit.

If you are concerned about voiding your warranty with the vendor, ask them. That's what I do, and usually they say OK, but even if they say NO, I then ask for escalation to an Engineer or Manager, and finally get approval, which I ask them to put into a message to me on my open Ticket asking for permission.

That way I have it on record that I am allowed to work on my laptop - usually I also ask specifically about storage and RAM upgrades first. Then I suggest you follow up with another ticket asking for the OK to re-paste - referencing the other ticket number, even if you are not going to re-paste that may change over time, and it's better to use the current positive karma to apply to an approval for the re-pasting too.

 

Now if only we can get an official declaration that when we buy hardware, we OWN it and should be able to modify the firmware/software to our liking as well. I think it is absolute BS the way consumers get raked over the coals when it comes to buying phones in the U.S. cell phone market, but aren't even allowed access to the bootloaders to flash custom kernels or flash ROMs that have better features than stock manufacturer garbage ROMs.

 

I believe this is still an active fight in the farming equipment sector (Caterpillar/John Deere/etc.).

 

Do you ever own software? Generally you own a license to use (but not modify/re-distribute/etc./etc.), but that's it.

 

Yes, absolutely. A real battle over OEM control. The control freak bull crap is not limited to all of the proprietary notebook nonsense.

 

My bad, software no. Shouldn't have used "software" above in my rant. But seriously, when I drop $600+ on an Android phone and I can't run the ROM / Kernel / Bootloader I want because the manufacturers and cell companies deliberately lock people out from using 3rd-party designed O/S's (ROM == O/S essentially in this Android example) that REALLY pisses me off. To add insult to injury there are ****ty locked blaotware apps that CAN'T be uninstalled because the OEM/cell carrier FORCES them to be on there. Not to mention the lack of control over the O/S due to hardware level lockouts that can't be overcome! And don't get me started on stability and performance of stock ROMs/kernels vs modded ones. Are you telling me a highly paid corporation with millions of dollars and the finest engineers seriously can't design a better ROM than a guy or two in their basements, thousands of miles apart conferring with the community through XDA?!

Sorry for my rant guys. I feel better now.

 

FTC Gives Manufacturers 30 Days to Remove Warranty Void Stickers
by Raevenlord Yesterday, 19:30 Discuss (18 Comments)
Remember that time where the FTC announced they were cracking down on illegal, predatory warranty conditions? You know, such as those "warranty void if removed" stickers that don't really have any legal base towards their implementation - and eventual refusal of an actual warranty claim? Well, the gong has now sounded, and it will reverberate some 30 times: the amount of days the FTC has given companies to cease and desist on putting those stickers in newly shipped products.