Skip to content
Emergency

Manufacturer guarantee: enforcing your claim correctly

Many products come with a manufacturer guarantee. It is a voluntary promise in addition to the statutory warranty. It is important to know the guarantee conditions, and to know that your statutory rights against the seller remain unaffected by it.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Create letter →

Your chances of getting your money back

A guarantee is a voluntary obligation to be liable, for example by the manufacturer, with its own conditions (§ 443 BGB). It comes in addition to the statutory warranty against the seller and can go beyond it.
Within the guarantee period you can turn to the guarantor in line with the guarantee conditions. Regardless of this, your statutory warranty rights against the seller remain in place, so you have two possible points of contact.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Read the conditions

    Look at the scope, duration and requirements of the guarantee.

  2. 2

    2. Choose your claim

    Decide between the guarantee (manufacturer) and the statutory warranty (seller).

  3. 3

    3. Assert the claim

    Report the defect on time and present the receipt and the guarantee documents.

  4. 4

    4. Follow up

    In the event of delay, demand performance in writing and set a deadline.

How to spot the scam

  • The guarantee conditions require costly obligations (e.g. expensive inspections).
  • You are told that your statutory rights have lapsed because of the guarantee.
  • The receipt or the guarantee documents are missing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a guarantee and the statutory warranty?

The statutory warranty is a legal right against the seller in the case of defective goods. The guarantee is a voluntary promise, usually by the manufacturer, with its own conditions (§ 443 BGB). Both exist side by side; you can rely on whichever is more favorable for you.

Do my statutory rights lapse with the guarantee?

No. The statutory warranty against the seller exists independently of a manufacturer guarantee. No one can take these rights from you by pointing to the guarantee. You have the choice of which claim you assert.

How do I assert a guarantee claim?

Turn to the guarantor within the guarantee period and meet the guarantee conditions, such as deadlines and proof. Present the receipt and the guarantee documents. If the guarantor does not respond, demand performance in writing and set a deadline.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Create letterCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.