At the till or checkout, a pram purchase often comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee, and sometimes with an offer of an extended warranty for an extra fee. For a budget buyer, the question is whether that paperwork is worth anything on top of the rights the law already gives. This guide summarises what GOV.UK and Citizens Advice say. It is general information, not legal advice, and the Citizens Advice page it draws on is written for England, with separate versions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Guarantees and warranties add to legal rights
Citizens Advice says warranties and guarantees add to a buyer’s legal rights, each one is different, and they tend to be useful in three situations: something has gone wrong after the first six months and a repair or replacement is wanted; an item was bought abroad and the manufacturer is based in the UK; or the trader has gone out of business and there is a problem with the goods they supplied. It suggests considering legal rights instead, because getting money back, a repair or a replacement may be easier that way, usually within the first six months, with legal rights for up to six years (five years in Scotland) if there is a fault (Citizens Advice, “Claim using a warranty or guarantee”). The statutory steps for a faulty pushchair are set out in our guide to faulty pushchair rights.
A guarantee can be the simpler route in some cases. Citizens Advice gives the example of a buyer who bought an item seven months ago and holds a guarantee lasting a year.
What GOV.UK says about extended warranties
GOV.UK’s guidance on extended warranties describes them as extra protection for a new product on top of the standard, or manufacturer’s, warranty, which can cover repair or replacement after the standard warranty has expired. Its main messages are:
- No obligation: nobody has to buy an extended warranty, and the standard manufacturer’s warranty might be enough.
- Statutory rights continue: whether or not a warranty is bought, the buyer is still entitled to statutory rights, which may include a refund, repair or replacement if something is faulty.
- No need to decide on the spot: a buyer can shop around, and a warranty need not be bought at the same time as the product.
- Existing cover: home contents insurance, or some bank accounts, may already cover the item, so it is worth asking.
- Value for money: the total cost of a warranty can be compared with the cost of buying a replacement.
The guidance also says a business selling an extended warranty must not give false or misleading information, must not omit or hide important information, and should make clear what is not covered, with cosmetic damage given as an example (GOV.UK, “Extended warranties: what you need to know before you buy”).
Electrical goods have extra rules, but a pushchair is not one
GOV.UK says extra rights apply when a domestic electrical product and an extended warranty are bought from the same retailer, including a duty to display an example warranty price and duration and to say the purchase is optional. Citizens Advice lists a 45-day refund right for extended warranties on electrical goods bought at the same time as the goods. A pram or pushchair is not an electrical product, so buyers should not assume those specific extra protections apply to a warranty sold with one.
Checking the small print
Citizens Advice’s list of points to look at in a guarantee or warranty is a useful checklist for pram buyers:
- Who can claim: only the person who bought the item can make a claim, unless the wording refers to “third party rights”. That matters if a pushchair was bought second-hand or received as a gift.
- Time limit: note when the guarantee expires.
- Return costs: check whether postage, packing and transport costs are payable if the item has to be sent back.
- Registration: a manufacturer’s guarantee may require a registration card to be returned, and it may not be valid if that is not done.
- Proof of purchase: a claim will usually need a receipt showing where and when the goods were bought, details of the problem and a copy of the warranty or guarantee.
Citizens Advice adds that if a manufacturer’s guarantee applies and the trader has gone out of business, the guarantee should still be valid. A guarantee given by the seller should be checked to see whether it is insurance-backed, meaning an insurance policy protects it if the trader closes.
Cancelling an extended warranty
Citizens Advice says a buyer who signed up for an extended warranty by phone or online may get an automatic 14-day cooling-off period, allowing cancellation and a refund. Our guide to the 14-day cancellation right covers the separate right to cancel the pushchair itself.
Where to complain
GOV.UK advises that a buyer with concerns about a mis-sold extended warranty should first ask the business to look into the complaint. If that does not resolve it, help is available from Citizens Advice in England and Wales, Consumer Advice Scot in Scotland (0808 164 6000) and Consumerline in Northern Ireland (0300 123 6262).
Questions readers often ask
Is an extended warranty compulsory when buying a pram?
No. GOV.UK states that no-one has to buy an extended warranty.
Does a guarantee replace legal rights?
No. Citizens Advice says warranties and guarantees add to legal rights.
The bottom line
A manufacturer’s guarantee or optional extended warranty on a pushchair adds to the legal right to a repair, replacement or refund for faulty goods, not replaces it. Citizens Advice says legal rights last up to six years (five in Scotland) and are often easier to use in the first six months, while a guarantee can be handy later on or if the seller has closed. GOV.UK says nobody has to buy an extended warranty and buyers can shop around, and the 45-day electrical-goods refund rule does not apply to a pram.