Why Aussies are suing Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne after feeling they were ‘tricked’ by ‘product care’ extended warranties

Another retailer has been accused in court of selling “unnecessary and worthless” extended warranties.

Echo Law announced Wednesday that it has filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of customers of Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne who purchased warranties between September 2018 and the present.

In December, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers brought a similar action in the Supreme Court of Victoria on behalf of JB Hi-Fi customers who purchased extended warranties on products between 1 January 2011 and 8 December 2023.

Both lawsuits argue that the retailers’ extensive “product care” warranties were of little to no value, as customers already had the same rights for free under the Australian Consumer Law, which generally gives consumers the right to a repair, replacement or refund if they buy a defective product.

JB Hi-Fi has indicated that it takes compliance with legal obligations seriously, believes it is in compliance with the law and intends to vigorously defend the claim.

Harvey Norman has been asked for comment.

Dr Lauren Meath, senior associate at Echo Law, said the law firm had heard from “hundreds” of Harvey Norman clients who were “furious” because they had paid thousands of dollars for product warranties over the years with little or no benefit from them.

“They feel like they’ve been ripped off,” Dr Meath said.

According to the lawsuit, Harvey Norman engaged in “misleading or deceptive conduct, as well as unconscionable conduct, by leading customers to believe that the extended warranty would provide them with additional protection that they would not otherwise have had,” the judge said.

The lawsuit alleges that Harvey Norman engaged in “misleading or deceptive conduct, as well as unreasonable conduct, by leading customers to believe that the extended warranty would provide them with additional protection that they would not otherwise have had.”