An Italian watchdog group has fined Apple 900,000 euros (approximately US$1.2million) for its handling of customer guarantees, reports the “BBC” (http://macte.ch/iNpdw).
The country’s Antitrust Authority said Apple had failed to inform shoppers of their legal right to two years’ technical support, recognizing instead only a one-year standard warranty. The Antitrust Authority said the firm’s action had led people to pay extra for Apple’s own support service, which overlapped in part with the free guarantee.
According to the “BBC,” the authority said the penalties applied to the iPhone maker’s three local divisions — Apple Italia, Apple Sales International and Apple Retail Italia. The Italian watchdog group added that Apple would have to publish an extract from its ruling on its website, and must add details of the two-year guarantee to its Applecare plan within 90 days.
