AUGUSTA – Maine law provides automatic warranty protection in addition to any “express” written or verbal warranty provided by a seller or manufacturer, according to Attorney General Steven Rowe. Rowe used the occasion of Consumer Protection Week to remind Mainers of the warranty protection.

In general, the implied warranty law applies to new or used consumer items that are seriously defective, have not been abused and were purchased less than four years ago and still within their normally expected “useful life.”

All new and used goods purchased for family, household or personal use, including clothes, new cars, appliances and sports equipment are warranted by law to be fit for the ordinary purpose for which such goods are used. The only exception to this law is that used-car dealers can disclaim implied warranties when selling used cars “as is,” without any express warranty.

Anyone who has been the victim of a breach of the implied warranty is generally entitled to incidental and consequential damages. In order to preserve warranty rights, both the dealer and manufacturer should be given written notice of the defect.