Apple Facing Investigation In Europe Over AppleCare

If you've ever been in a situation where you're not sure whether you should spring for the AppleCare Protection Plan warranty, European officials think that you're not getting all the facts to make an informed decision. European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding wrote to EU countries to ask them to check whether Apple retail stores are providing buyers with the right to a minimum two-year warranty for Apple products.

Reding says that Apple does a good job advertising that all of the company's products come with a one-year warranty, but they fail to bring up that consumers are actually entitled to a completely-free two-year warranty under European Union law. "These are unacceptable marketing practices," says Reding.

Apple has already paid a fine to Italy for similar practices last year. They were required to pay up 900,000 euros ($1.16 million) because they misled consumers by advertising that its products came with a one-year warranty over the two-year warranty that was set by law. Instead, Apple was encouraging sales of its AppleCare warranty extension.

Apple didn't comment on the situation other than directing people to their EU statutory warranty page, where it states that EU law covers defects in the product starting at the time of delivery, while Apple's one-year warranty and AppleCare cover defects after the buyer receives the device. Either way, Reding is pushing for a Europe-wide investigation into the matter, and is urging all 27 member states to investigate.