The Michigan Appliance Act of 2002

The Michigan Appliance Act provides protection to the consumer for any fraudulent activity resulting from the repair, servicing, or maintenance of an appliance such as a refrigerator, dehumidifier, freezer, oven, range, microwave oven, washer, dryer, dishwasher, trash compactor, or window room air conditioner. This law requires the service dealer to provide you with a written estimate of the cost. The written estimate must have on it the dealer's name, street address, and telephone number. It will describe the problem or the maintenance procedure to be performed. Labor charges must be shown separately from cost of parts. The estimate will show if a hourly or flat rate was used to determine the labor charge. The cost for removing the appliance from and returning the appliance to the customer's home will also be shown. A service dealer may charge a fee, IF it is shown in the written estimate, for labor performed in examining the appliance and diagnosing the problem. This diagnosis fee must separately show any fee for dismantling and reassembling and the cost of any parts that would be destroyed or rendered inoperable by the dismantling of the appliance. The dealer can't charge more than 110% of the amount noted in the written estimate unless the service dealer receives a verbal or written permission from you.

The final bill must show dealer information, service call charges, labor charge, and if parts were installed, the price, whether they were new or used, the part number and manufacturer, and the manufacturer's warranty. The service dealer must also spell out his labor warranty which can't be less than 30 days. The final bill must have a statement included in it that tells you of your right to bring action against the dealer if you are not satisfied with his work.

The warranty requires the service dealer to correct, at no cost to the customer, any failure of the warranted parts if the customer notifies the service dealer in writing within the warranty period. A service dealer has 10 days to make the needed repairs unless through not fault of his own he was unable to secure the necessary parts. Any days the dealer has possession of the appliance extends the warranty by that number of days.

To further protect you the law has penalties for false statements made to you by the dealer trying to influence you into purchasing an unneeded repair. You have the right to sue for actual damages resulting from a false statement (or from failure to provide you a valid estimate and final bill) for actual damages or $250.00, whichever is greater. The dealer will also have to pay any reasonable attorney fees. The court may award up to twice the amount of damages if it finds that the violation of this act was willful.