Another retailer has been accused in court of selling “unnecessary and worthless” extended warranties.
Echo Law announced on Wednesday that it was launching a class action lawsuit in Federal Court on behalf of Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne customers who purchased the warranties from September 2018 to the present day.
In December, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed a similar claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria on behalf of JB Hi-Fi customers who purchased extended warranties for products between January 1, 2011, and December 8, 2023.
Both lawsuits allege that retailers’ extended “product care” warranties had little or no value because customers already had the same rights for free under Australian Consumer Law, which generally entitles consumers to a repair, replacement or refund if they buy a defective product.
JB Hi-Fi has stated that it is serious about complying with its legal obligations, believes it has complied with the law and intends to vigorously defend the claim.
Harvey Norman has been contacted for comment.
Echo Law senior associate Dr Lauren Meath said the law firm had heard from “hundreds” of Harvey Norman clients who were “furious” that they had paid thousands of dollars for product care warranties over the years for little or no benefit.
“They feel like they’ve been cheated,” Dr. Meath said.
The suit alleges that Harvey Norman engaged in “deceptive and fraudulent conduct, as well as abusive conduct, by leading customers to believe that the extended warranty would provide them with additional protection that they would not otherwise have had,” it said.
Echo Law announced Wednesday that it was launching a class action lawsuit in Federal Court on behalf of Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne customers who purchased the warranties from September 2018 to the present.
The lawsuit alleges that Harvey Norman engaged in “deceptive and fraudulent conduct, as well as abusive conduct, by misleading customers into believing that the extended warranty would provide them with additional protection that they would not otherwise have had.”
