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Section 106 of the Act
deals with service contracts.
Service contracts,
unlike warranties, are purchased separately from a product.
Section 108 (a) of the
Act prohibits you from disclaiming. warranties on a product if you sell a service contract
on it. |
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Offering
Service Contracts
A
service contract is an optional agreement for product service that customers sometimes
buy. It provides additional protection beyond what the warranty offers on the product.
Service contracts are similar to warranties in that both concern service for a product.
However, there are differences between warranties and service contracts.
Warranties come with a product and are
included in the purchase price. In the language of the Act, warranties are "part of
the basis of the bargain" Service contracts, on the other hand, are agreements that
are separate from the contract or sale of the product. They are separate either because
they are made some time after the sale of the product, or because they cost the customer a
fee beyond the purchase price of the product.
The Act includes very broad provisions
governing service contracts that are explained in the following sections.
Statement
of Terms and Conditions
If you offer a service contract, the Act requires you to list
conspicuously all terms and conditions in simple and readily understood language. However,
unlike warranties, service contracts are not required to be titled "full"
or "limited,' or to contain the special standard disclosures. In fact, using warranty
disclosures in service contracts could confuse customers about whether the agreement is a
warranty or a service contract.
The company that makes the service contract
is responsible for ensuring that the terms and conditions are disclosed as required by
law. This is not the responsibility of the seller of the service contract, unless the
seller and the maker are the same company.
Disclaimer or Limitation of
Implied Warranties
Sellers of consumer products who make service contracts on their products are prohibited
under the Act from disclaiming or limiting implied warranties. (Remember also that sellers
who extend written warranties on consumer products cannot disclaim implied warranties,
regardless of whether they make service contracts on their products.) However, sellers of
consumer products that merely sell service contracts as agents of service contract
companies and do not themselves extend written warranties can disclaim implied
warranties on the products they sell.
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