Broken smartphone, washing machine or other device? As a consumer you are now entitled to this

A broken down washing machine, smartphone, or vacuum cleaner often ends up in the trash. But now comes the “right to repair.” It is one of the provisions of the Directive approved by the European Parliament.

This means that you as a consumer have the right to have your device repaired if a problem occurs, even when the warranty period has expired. If the device requires repair within the legal warranty period, the warranty period is extended by one year.

Now, disposing of broken devices costs European consumers, who then buy a new one, 12 billion euros a year. It also creates a mountain of waste of 35 million tons every year.

Appliance spare parts

“The new legislation provides for easy access to information, such as where and how items can be repaired. But manufacturers also have to indicate spare parts on their website,” MEP Tom Vandenkendler (CD&V) said on VRT 1.

“A platform is being created where people who want to fix something can look for people who have something to fix, and vice versa. Hopefully, this will create a new market and more things can be fixed.”