According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Fitbit LLC has made false or misleading claims to consumers about its warranty rights on defective devices.
Between May 2020 and February 2022, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Fitbit claims consumers will only be entitled to a refund if they return a defective product within 45 days of purchase or shipment, which is inconsistent with the Australian consumer. Law.
Gina Kass-Gottlib, Chair of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, said “All consumers have … automatic consumer warranty rights that cannot be excluded, limited or modified.” This differs from any warranties made by manufacturers.
The Australian regulator clarified that there is not a 45-day period for refunds, and faulty goods do not need to be purchased in the same timeframe as their replacements.
The ACCC alleges that once the consumer replaced their Fitbit device with a new Fitbit, they are not entitled to a second replacement if it’s over the two-year limited warranty period.
Google did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The Anti-Corruption Commission, which is seeking sanctions and injunctions, said its case involves 58 models of consumers who were allegedly misled by Fitbit when they complained about faulty hardware.