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Purchases · Malta
Checked 2026-09-30

🛠️ My purchase is faulty: what are my rights in Malta?

Short answer

The seller — not the manufacturer — is liable when goods are faulty or not as described. You can ask for a free repair or a replacement; if that fails or takes too long, a price reduction or your money back.

⏱ DeadlineThe seller is liable for faults that appear within the legal period (see the rules in Malta below). Act as soon as you notice the fault.

📜 Your rights

EUThe EU rule

EU consumer law applies in every EU country. Your country writes it into its own law — the national rule is below.

  • The seller is liable for any lack of conformity that exists when the goods are delivered and becomes apparent within at least 2 years (Art. 10(1) Directive (EU) 2019/771). Countries may keep longer periods (Art. 10(3)).
  • A fault that becomes apparent within 1 year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery, unless the seller proves otherwise; countries may extend this to 2 years (Art. 11).
  • If the goods are repaired, the seller’s liability period is extended once by 12 months (Art. 10(2a), added by Directive (EU) 2024/1799, applied from 31 July 2026).
  • You first choose between repair and replacement, unless the one you choose is impossible or disproportionate (Art. 13(2)).
  • Repair or replacement is free of charge, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you (Art. 14(1)).
  • You can ask for a price reduction or terminate the contract if the seller did not repair or replace, the fault comes back, it is serious, or the seller refuses (Art. 13(4)). Not for a minor fault (Art. 13(5)).
Official source: publications.europa.eu · Checked 2026-09-30

The rules in Malta

The seller is liable for any lack of conformity that existed at delivery and appears within two years. A defect that appears within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at delivery. You choose repair or replacement; price reduction or termination follow if that fails.

  • To keep your remedies, notify the seller of the defect on a durable medium (for example email or letter). The law gives you at least two months from the day you discovered it. (legislation.mt)
  • Repair or replacement must be free of charge, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience. The seller takes back replaced goods at its own expense, and you do not pay for normal use before replacement. (legislation.mt)
  • The two-year period is suspended while you and the seller negotiate a friendly settlement. You may withhold any unpaid part of the price until the seller meets its obligations. (legislation.mt)
  • You cannot terminate for a minor defect; the seller must prove it is minor. After termination you return the goods at the seller's expense and it refunds the price once it receives them or your proof of sending. (legislation.mt)
Law: Articles 74 to 80 of the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap. 378)
Official source: legislation.mt · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Write the fault downWhat is wrong, since when, photos or a short video. Keep the receipt or order confirmation.
  2. Contact the seller, not the manufacturerYour legal claim is against the seller. A manufacturer’s guarantee is an extra, not a replacement.
  3. Choose repair or replacementUse the letter below and give a reasonable date.
  4. No repair, no replacement?Ask for a price reduction or end the contract and get your money back (the letter says so).
  5. EscalateThe bodies under “If the trader does not answer”.

✉️ Your letter

Information, not legal advice. FFCheck is independent and not affiliated with any authority, court or company. The letter is a template filled with your details: you check it and send it yourself.

Fill in your details. The letter appears on this page: copy it into an e-mail or the trader’s contact form, or print it. Nothing you type is stored.

Name of the shop or company
e.g. “1 pair of running shoes, size 42”
Short and factual, e.g. “the screen stays black after charging”.
What you ask for required
Your full name
Optional, but a letter by post needs it.
Language of the letter

🧭 If the trader does not answer

Give the trader the time in your letter. Then, in this order:

An out-of-court dispute body (ADR) can settle it. The trader has to tell you which ADR body covers it (on its website, terms or in its reply).

MCCAA – Complaints and Conciliation Directorate (residual ADR entity)Residual consumer ADR body by law; offers ADR free of charge.🔗 mccaa.org.mt
Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) – Office for Consumer AffairsTakes consumer complaints after you complained to the trader and tries free conciliation.📞 +356 8007 4400 🔗 mccaa.org.mt

Trader in another EU country? The European Consumer Centre helps for free.

European Consumer Centre MaltaFree help with complaints against traders in other EU countries, Norway or Iceland.📞 +356 23952360 🔗 eccnetmalta.gov.mt
Consumer Claims TribunalDecides consumer claims against traders up to €10,000, after referral to the Director General for Consumer Affairs.📞 +356 21227070 🔗 mccaa.org.mt

European Small Claims Procedure: for cross-border claims up to €5,000, a written procedure without a lawyer. e-justice.europa.eu

The EU’s online dispute resolution platform (ODR) closed on 20 July 2025. Use the bodies on this page instead.

📇 Every office for this in Malta →

❓ Frequently asked questions

The shop says: contact the manufacturer. Is that right?

No. The seller is liable for the legal guarantee. You may use a manufacturer’s commercial guarantee as well, but you don’t have to.

Do I have to pay for the repair or the shipping?

No. Bringing the goods into conformity is free of charge, including the cost of sending them.

What if the fault shows up after the presumption period?

The seller is still liable within the legal period, but you may have to show the fault was there at delivery (for example a report or the nature of the defect).

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🔎 What people search

  • “faulty product rights Malta”
  • “legal guarantee 2 years shop refuses”
  • “defective item repair or replace”
  • “warranty claim letter”
  • “shop says contact manufacturer”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related

📭Parcel arrived damaged→↩️Return an online order→📲Digital content not working→💶Refund not received→📇Every office for this in Malta→

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