Did you know that repairers of motor vehicles are required by law to give you a warranty for the services that they provide?
This is according to Section 51 of the Consumer Protection Act 2012 which provides that every repairer of a motor vehicle is deemed to give you as a consumer a warranty for any new or reconditioned parts.
This warranty consists of either 90 days or 5000 km of whichever occurs first.
"On the repair of a vehicle, every repairer shall be deemed to warrant all new or reconditioned parts installed and the labour required to install them for a minimum of ninety days or five thousand kilometres, whichever comes first, or for such greater minimum as may be prescribed," reads part of the Act.
What happens when a repairer does a shoddy job? The Consumer Protection Act gives you two alternatives. Where your car is deemed inoperable or unsafe to drive you can either have your original repairer fix it or another repairer to get your vehicle fixed.
If you decide to use another repairer the CPA allows you to recover the cost that you incurred from the original repairer who did a shoddy job.
"When work or repairs are made under subsection (3), the person entitled to a warranty under this section is entitled to recover from the original repairer the original cost of the work or repairs and reasonable towing charges..,"
Level Checks of this provision
However, the Act has its limits on consumers. If you misuse or abuse the part that has been replaced you will not be allowed to claim anything.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Julius, a car review expert stated that;
"Kenyans mostly go for affordability when purchasing spares, if a spare part maybe retails at Ksh 50000 they would rather buy one that costs Ksh10,000, this becomes a challenge to manufacturers since consumers get to deal with mechanics who are inexperienced and with no proper inventory,"
He however maintained that when getting parts from suppliers they are supposed to have a warranty.
"Kenyan market products are from China which is mostly counterfeit, our mechanics are unaware of matters of warranty and proper inventory, mostly in areas like downtown Grogon and River road. However, getting a warranty of maybe Mercedes at Daimla or DT Dobie is easier because of their inventory."
Undoubtedly, the Consumer Protection Act is a far-reaching piece of legislation that will affect different sectors including real estate, e-commerce, manufacturing, agriculture, banking and finance, and aviation, among many others.
A breach of any regulation made by the CPA will make a person liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both such fine and imprisonment.
