What is The Lemon Law Act?

The Lemon Law is a new addition under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, which serves to protect the interests of consumers against defective goods.

Goods are considered “defective” when:

• It does not correspond with the description provided
• It is not of satisfactory quality
• It does not fit for the purpose communicated by the seller at the time of purchase

In the above instances, the Lemon Law obligates the sellers to repair, replace or refund the product. The Lemon Law also operates under the 6 month rule – if the product is found defected within 6 months, the product is assumed to have been defected at the time of delivery, unless proven otherwise. In some cases you may lodge a case in the Singapore small claims tribunal.

However, there are terms that the product has to meet before the claim can take place.

The Lemon Law will not apply when:

• The damage is caused by the consumer
• The consumer had misused it and caused a fault
• The consumer damaged it while trying to repair it on their own or through a 3rd party
• The consumer was aware of the fault at the time of purchase
• The consumer simply wanted a change of the item

What does the Lemon Law covers?

The Lemon Law covers all consumer goods except real property and rented goods. Perishables and food products are also covered – with the 6 months rule applying if the shelf-life of the product is less than 6 months.

You may seek help for a Singapore civil litigation lawyer if you have been the victim of faulty or deceptive goods.