In an interview with Tunisie Numérique, Lotfi Riahi, President of the Tunisian Organization for Consumer Information, voiced deep concern over what he described as “serious and recurring violations” committed by several home appliance suppliers, particularly in matters related to legal warranties and after-sales services.
Riahi explained that the organization has recorded a sharp and unprecedented rise in complaints, especially those involving the manipulation of warranty contracts and the denial of basic consumer rights guaranteed by law.
Main infractions reported
According to Riahi, the organization has identified four alarming practices that have become increasingly common:
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Unfair and undisclosed contractual clauses added without informing the consumer.
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Charging additional fees under the pretext of “insurance” or “extended warranty,” despite the fact that the legal warranty is free.
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Delaying repairs or spare parts, with service providers failing to respect legal deadlines.
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Illegal disclaimers of responsibility, through signs or invoice notes excluding defects that must legally be covered.
Riahi stressed:
“Some retailers are selling fake warranties, while others are exploiting consumers’ lack of legal awareness. This is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate such practices.”
The Organization warns… and sanctions are possible
He also noted that violating the official terms and conditions is not a minor administrative slip, but an offense that could lead to economic and administrative sanctions against offending businesses.
A Call to consumers
The organization urges all consumers to:
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reject any unclear or non-disclosed warranty clause;
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refuse to pay any additional fee for a warranty that is legally free;
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immediately report any fraudulent practice to the regional trade authorities.
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