A Belgian consumer protection organization has filed a lawsuit against Apple for not following local laws regarding warranties. Test-Aankoop filed the suit on Monday.
All Apple hardware comes with a one-year limited commercial warranty, but the company is required under EU law to protect buyers with a minimum of two years protection on all consumer electronics, which includes its iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and iPod devices.
To extend coverage beyond one year, Apple customers are encouraged to purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan or AppleCare+.
Test-Aankoop is arguing that Apple’s practice does not comply with local laws, and says that Apple does not adequately inform customers of their rights.
The organization argues that Apple deliberately withholds information about an official EU directive, which automatically extends warranties on electronics to two years, in order to help sell AppleCare.
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced a fight over its warranty policies in Europe. It was fined $1.2 million by Italy’s anti-trust authorities. Apple appealed that sanction and lost but was finally cleared after taking measures.
Test-Aankoop said in a statement that warranty problems are at the “top of the hit parade” of complaints in Belgium, and that Apple is one of the biggest offenders.
