Being sold an extended warranty?
You may already have the protection, free, under consumer law. The ACCC says so plainly.
Already yours
the ACCC warns an extended warranty may charge you for rights you already have for free
What this is
An extended warranty is an optional product sold on top of what the law already gives you. Consumer guarantees are automatic, cannot be excluded, and last as long as is reasonable for the price and type of product, which for an expensive appliance is usually well beyond a one-year manufacturer warranty. The ACCC's own wording is that buying an extended warranty might mean paying for rights you already have for free.
Does it apply to you?
- Anyone at a checkout being offered cover on an appliance or electronics
- Anyone who bought one and is wondering whether to renew it
- Anyone told a repair is not covered because the warranty expired
How to do it
- Ask what the extended warranty gives you beyond your consumer guarantees. Ask for it in writing.
- Remember consumer guarantees are automatic, cannot be taken away, and are not limited to the manufacturer's warranty period.
- An expensive item is expected to last longer, so the guarantee period is longer too. Out of warranty is not out of rights.
- Decide after you leave. Pressure at the counter is itself a warning sign.
Where people lose the money
Deciding at the counter under time pressure.
Ask for the terms in writing and decide later. Pressure at the point of sale is itself a warning sign.
Believing out of warranty means out of rights.
Consumer guarantees are separate from and outlast the manufacturer's warranty period.
Questions
Are extended warranties always a waste?
Not always. Some add genuinely extra things, such as accidental damage. The test is what it adds beyond your automatic rights, which is a question worth asking in writing.
How long do consumer guarantees last?
As long as is reasonable given the price, the type of product and what a buyer would expect. There is no fixed number, which is why an expensive item is held to a longer standard.
What if I already bought one?
You still have your consumer guarantees. If you were pressured or misled into buying it, that is itself something to raise with the retailer and your state consumer agency.
Where these numbers come from
- ACCC, Warranties · read 2026-09-22
Last gone over 2026-09-22. Figures change; the link above is always the current one.