Telstra extends handset warranties to 24 months

Stuart Corner
Friday, 08 October 2010 16:10

IT Policy - Regulation

Following discussions with the ACCC Telstra has extended from 12 months to 24 months the warranty on all mobile handsets, except the iPhone, sold with 24 month contracts.

This initiative from Telstra follows an investigation last year by the ACCC which resulted, earlier this year, in the ACCC accepting a court enforceable undertaking from Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) to supply a 24 month express warranty to any phone (excluding Apple) sold on a 24 month contract.

"It is important for consumers and suppliers to realise that the Trade Practices Act implies certain statutory rights into consumer contracts," ACCC chairman, Graeme Samuel said.

"Just because the manufacturer's warranty period is up, it does not mean that consumers can be hung out to dry if they are left with a faulty product and ongoing service contract."

Optus has yet to move to offering 24 month warranties and the ACCC said it continued to hold discussions with Optus seeking a similar handset warranty policy as is now in place with Telstra and VHA.

It added: "Although nearly all major handset manufacturers have agreed to honour full warranties, the ACCC continues to have concerns in relation to warranty issues with the Apple iPhone.