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Official redress

The real redress, in order

Four steps, to be climbed in this order: each level feeds on the written record of the one before.

Law as verified onJuly 29, 2026

File EU 2019/771

  1. The seller, in writing, naming the legal guarantee

    As soon as it fails

    Purchase date, description of the defect, and the exact name of what you invoke: the legal guarantee of conformity, two years from delivery. Ask for repair or replacement, at your choice, and keep every reply.

    Guarantees and returns (Your Europe, European Union)

  2. The European Consumer Centre in your country

    After the seller's refusal

    If the seller is established in another EU country and refuses or does not reply, the official guarantees page points to the European Consumer Centre in your country for help getting a repair or a refund.

    European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)

  3. Consumer dispute resolution

    In parallel

    The official page of the Union lists the consumer dispute resolution routes, including out-of-court bodies, country by country.

    Consumer dispute resolution (Your Europe, European Union)

  4. The European Small Claims Procedure

    Last

    A written procedure provided by Union law for cross-border claims. The Regulation establishing it states in black and white that representation by a lawyer or another legal professional is not mandatory.

    Small claims (e-Justice portal, European Union)

Longer national guarantee periods, limitation periods and the rules of procedure before a national court are not covered here: this site presents only the European baseline common to the twenty-seven. A Directive sets a minimum: your national law may provide better, never less.