Most traders selling electronics devices in the Kingdom have devised strange ways to cheat and loot their customers. While selling these products they do not tell their prospective buyers the weird rules regarding the guarantee/warranty of the products. After having bought one such device, I wonder whether I was duped or I didn’t know the slippery rules.

My nightmare started a few days back when my mobile phone stopped working. I approached a service center for check/repair where I was told the guarantee period has expired. I went into arguments with the agent as I had bought the mobile on July 31, 2012 and there was one-year guarantee period.

While I insisted the guarantee period should start from the time of purchase, but I was told that the guarantee card showed the activation date as May 22, 2012.

According to the service center, the period started from the date of manufacture, which is May 22, 2012. Now I do not what to do and who to approach. Expenses to repair this device will make a huge dent in my pocket. — Mohammed Abdul Moeed, Riyadh