“The class action – lodged with the Victorian Supreme Court last Friday – is the first of its kind and alleges JB Hi-Fi’s extended warranties were of little or no value because customers already had the same rights for free under the Australian Consumer Law.
Consumer advocate Choice has long warned that extended warranties are worthless, but in a 2023 survey found 32 per cent of consumers had bought them at one time or another, often after being pressured by aggressive sales techniques.
The JB Hi-Fi Class Action relates to extended warranties JB Hi-Fi offers customers when they buy goods including consumer electronics, home appliances and home entertainment products. The extended warranties have been called Extended Care Plans or Extra Care Plans at different times.
The class action alleges that JB Hi-Fi used misleading or deceptive conduct or unconscionable conduct in selling the extended warranties.
Compensation is claimed for everyone who bought an extended warranty from JB Hi-Fi between 1 January 2011 and 8 December 2023.”