If you buy something and it breaks, and the company suddenly acts like the warranty never existed, that’s not just frustrating — it might actually be illegal.
Here’s the thing: when a product costs more than $15 and comes with a written warranty, federal law kicks in. It’s called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and it sets minimum standards for what that warranty has to do. Companies can’t just write whatever they want on a warranty card and call it a day. The law says the warranty has to be available for you to read before you buy — whether you’re shopping in a store or online.
One sneaky thing companies sometimes try: voiding your warranty because you used a third-party part or got your product repaired somewhere other than their authorized shop. The FTC has actually filed complaints against companies over this. Weber, the grill brand, received a complaint because they told customers that using non-Weber parts would void the warranty — and under the Warranty Act, that kind of blanket restriction isn’t allowed unless some very specific exceptions apply. The FTC doesn’t mess around on this one.
So what do you actually do if a business won’t make good on a warranty?
You can file a complaint directly with the FTC. Their number is 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). They also take complaints online. The FTC doesn’t resolve individual disputes for you personally, but your complaint goes into a database that helps them spot patterns and go after companies that are breaking the rules. Enough complaints about one company? That’s how investigations get started.
Beyond the FTC, you can also look into your state attorney general’s office or a small claims court if you feel like the company owes you money. Those routes are worth knowing about depending on how much is at stake — and the rules can vary by state, so it’s worth checking what applies where you live.
Bottom line: if a company is blowing off your warranty, don’t just accept it. Read what the warranty actually says, know that there are federal rules behind it, and report the company if they’re not playing fair.