Apple Fined $1.2 Million in Italy Over Warranty Disclosure Issues

applecare boxReuters reports that Apple has been fined the equivalent of $1.2 million in Italy over issues related to warranty disclosures.

According to the report, Italy's antitrust regulators ruled that Apple has not been providing adequate disclosures about the two free years of product warranty assistance required under Italian law, while also pushing customers to purchase AppleCare extended warranties without disclosing that many of the benefits overlap the standard warranty.

The authority said Apple Sales International, Apple Italia and Apple Retail Italia did not properly inform customers that they were entitled to two years of free assistance under Italian law. Three Apple spokesmen contacted by Reuters weren't immediately available for comment.

Information provided about an extra guarantee scheme, the "AppleCare Protection Plan," encouraged customers to buy the service without clearly explaining that it overlapped with the free assistance required by law, the competition authority said.

News of Italian regulators' inquiries into Apple's warranty offering surfaced in late May. Word on any fines levied on Apple was said to be set to follow by late August, but the agency apparently took some additional time to examine the issue before reaching a decision.

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Top Rated Comments

iekozz Avatar
175 months ago
This is not just happening in Italy, but EU wide. There is a standard 2-year warrenty for all pc/laptops ect here.

The fine is 100% correct and could be higher.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alex00100 Avatar
175 months ago
persanally, i fully agree.
1 year is too little and making people spend even more $ for safety aside those $$$ for products is totally wrong.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neiltc13 Avatar
175 months ago
The EU is collapsing, and this is what they spend their time with?
This is nothing to do with the EU. It is about the enforcement of laws created by the EU in Italy as it is the responsibility of all member states to implement EU law.

Given that the dollar/euro exchange rate is prone to fluctuate, it would be more accurate to quote the fine in the terms in which is was levied (ca. €900,000 I think I read on the BBC)
Agreed. I think it is insulting that the author thinks his audience does not know how much €900,000 is.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shrink Avatar
175 months ago
1.2 million?! Apple is finished!

For better or worse, Tim Cook could find $1.2 million between the cushions of the couch in the executive lounge.:rolleyes:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gpat Avatar
175 months ago
The EU is collapsing, and this is what they spend their time with?

Just wait until you know how deep the sh*it is in America.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rocknblogger Avatar
175 months ago
The EU is collapsing, and this is what they spend their time with?
Yeah shame on them for looking out for their citizens.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)