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发帖数: 3492 | 1 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:33:12 PDT
Late last year, Apple was fined $1.2 million by Italian regulators over
warranty-related issues, with Apple being cited for not adequately
disclosing standard two-year warranties required to be offered with new
products sold in the country.
Following the ruling, Apple temporarily added disclosures to its Italian
online store even as it was appealing the decision. Apple officially lost
its appeal earlier this year, with the company being required to pay the
previously-assessed fine.
Reuters now reports that Italian regulators remain concerned about Apple's
sales and marketing tactics and are considering additional fines and an
eventual temporary ban on Apple's ability to sell products in the country as
further sanctions.
The AGCM said in its monthly bulletin that Apple was continuing to adopt
unfair commercial practices in Italy and noted this could eventually lead to
the closure of its Italian operations for up to 30 days.
The U.S. group has 30 days to respond.
The AGCM alleges that information provided by Apple about an extra guarantee
scheme encourages customers to buy the service without clearly explaining
that the company is obliged to offer a two-year free warranty, the source
said.
Italy is not the only country where Apple is facing criticism over its
warranty policies. Earlier this year, consumer groups in eleven European
Union countries filed letters of complaint with their respective regulatory
agencies asking them to take action against Apple's misleading warranty
sales tactics in light of the EU's requirement for a standard two-year
warranty. The company clarified the differences between EU protection and
Apple's warranty policies, but concerns about its disclosures apparently
still remain. |
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