No-nonsense commercial full guarantees

There are suppliers who make a big song and dance about a "five-year" commercial guarantee and let you discover, on reading the fine print, that coverage for labour is limited to three months.

In such cases, to retain the validity of the guarantee for the remaining four years and nine months, the consumer is obliged to refer the product to the supplier for all guarantee-related repairs.

During this period the consumer has to pay labour charges which, very often, constitute a major part of the expense. This means that it is the consumer, rather than the supplier, who is making a commitment.

However, as regular readers know, we have a list of suppliers who offer superior commercial guarantees with coverage for parts, labour and transport for the full duration of the guarantee period.

The current law only obliges suppliers to inform buyers whether the guarantee is transferable or not. They can choose not to make it transferable as long as they inform the buyer accordingly. However, suppliers in our list actually agree to make their guarantee transferable.

With regard to bulky appliances, if customers come up against faults or breakdowns during the guarantee period, they can call the suppliers in our list on the telephone. Should it not be possible to sort the problem out on the telephone, these suppliers will call at their customer's address and there will be no call-out fee charged during the guarantee period.

Therefore, if you do have a problem with the suppliers in our list about the guarantee terms and conditions I have outlined, write to me. I have spoken with the managing directors/general managers of these companies and I maintain a meaningful dialogue with them.

With such suppliers offering such guarantees, I see no reason why we should accept inferior commercial guarantees. While encouraging you to make the most of the situation I urge more suppliers to offer full guarantees as I have outlined. They are invited to write to me.

Indeed, this week we are adding a new company, Centro Casalinga. However, at this point, I must inform suppliers who may be interested in joining the list that we will soon be imposing a limit as to how many companies we can have in the list with a view to retaining the prestige aspect of being in the list.

In any case, if the number we may decide on is exceeded, the companies would still be the companies who were the first companies to offer such commercial guarantees. Currently, apart from the company that has just joined, there is another company in the process of possibly joining the list.

Here follows our current list (in alphabetical order), including details, of the relevant suppliers:

Aplan Ltd.: managing director Alex A. Mizzi; general manager Lino Apap. Head office (and outlet): Aplan Centre, Birkirkara Bypass, Birkirkara BKR 14, tel: 2148-0590, 2148-0593; fax 2148-0598; e-mail: admin@aplan.com.mt.

Centro Casalinga: managing director: Jacques Scerri, Mba, B.Com. (Hons.). Head office: J.J. Scerri Co. Ltd., Quarries Street, St Venera; tel: 2125-0980/1/2; fax 2123-5942; e-mail: sales@jjscerri.com.

Delta Homecentres: managing director: Maurice Mizzi; general manager: James Rizzo. Head office: The Lyric, Antonio Bosio Street, Msida, tel: 2133-1071/2; fax 2138-3920; e-mail: jrizzo@delta.mizzi.com.mt.

Forestals (Appliances) Ltd.: managing director: Tancred Tabone. Head office: 110, The Strand, Sliema, tel: 2134-4700/7; fax 2134-4709; e-mail: info@forestals.com. Website www.forestals.com.

Oxford House Ltd.: managing director: John Galea. Head office: Notabile Road, Mriehel; outlet: Notabile Road, Mriehel. Tel: 2144-2334; fax 2148-8656; e-mail: info@oxfordhouse.com.mt.

The Phoenix Group: managing director: Steve Petroni. Head office (and outlet): Old Railway Track, St Venera; tel: 2385-2200; Servicing Dept: 2385-2300; fax 2144-9216; e-mail: info@phoenixgroupmalta. com. Website: www.phoenixgroupmalta. com.