01
Legal guarantee versus post-guarantee repair rights
In the EU, goods sold to consumers normally come with a legal guarantee of conformity for a minimum period. During that period, a product that does not work as it should may need to be repaired or replaced at no cost to you. After that period ends, different rules may apply: for some product categories, manufacturers may still be required to offer repair, spare parts or repair information. Which set of rules applies could change what you can ask for and who you should ask.
02
Seller versus manufacturer responsibility
Within the legal guarantee period, the seller you bought from is usually the first point of responsibility, even if the fault came from the manufacturer. Outside that period, obligations may sit with the manufacturer instead, depending on the product category and national law. This is why we ask who you contacted and when.
03
Reasonable repair price
Where a repair obligation exists, a price may need to be reasonable — that is, not set so high that it effectively discourages repair. What counts as reasonable depends on the product, the parts and the work involved. A second, independent quote is often the most useful evidence you can provide.
A second, independent quote is often the single most useful piece of evidence in a pricing dispute.
04
Reasonable repair time
A repair may need to be carried out within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you. There is rarely a fixed number of days; what is reasonable depends on the product, the fault and the circumstances. Documented dates matter more than impressions.
05
Spare-parts and repair-information access
For certain product categories, manufacturers may be required to make spare parts, repair information or diagnostic tools available for a defined period, to professional repairers and sometimes to consumers. If you were refused a part or a manual, that refusal itself could be relevant.
06
Failed paid repairs
If you paid for a repair and the same fault returned, or the repair did not achieve what was agreed, you may be able to ask for the work to be redone, for a price reduction, or for a refund of what you paid, depending on national law and the terms you agreed.
07
Independent repair and software restrictions
Practices that block independent repair — software locks after a part is replaced, pairing requirements, or refusal to supply tools — may be relevant to repair rights and, in some cases, to competition or consumer-protection rules. This area is developing, and outcomes are uncertain.
08
Potential reimbursement and damages
Where a company should have repaired something and did not, you may in some circumstances be able to recover costs you reasonably incurred — for example an independent repair, transport, or a diagnostic fee. Buying a replacement product is not automatically recoverable. Any figure you give us helps our reviewers understand your loss; it does not determine what you are legally entitled to receive.
This guide uses words like “may”, “could” and “depending on national law” deliberately. Nothing here is a promise about your case.