Australian Court Orders Apple to Improve After-Sales Service:

Apple has been ordered to improve its after-sales policies after an Australian consumer rights group secured a court order against the company.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said that it took action following an investigation into Apple's consumer guarantees policies and practices, and representations about consumers' rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The ACCC said was concerned that Apple had made a number of false or misleading representations to a number of consumers regarding their consumer guarantee rights, including that Apple was not required to provide a refund, replacement or repair to consumers in circumstances where these remedies were required by law.

The ACCC was concerned that on occasions these representations may have arisen from Apple staff and representatives misapplying Apple's policies, including its 14 day return policy and its 12 month limited manufacturer's warranty. The ACCC was also concerned that Apple staff were directing consumers with faulty non-Apple manufactured products purchased from Apple, to the manufacturer for resolution of the consumer's concerns.

Apple has since acknowledged the ACCC's concerns, and that some of these representations to consumers may have contravened the ACL. Apple has worked with the ACCC to resolve these concerns, and has now committed to taking a number of compliance measures.