Australia’s leading plaintiff law firm, Maurice Blackburn is conducting a class action against JB Hi-Fi relating to extended warranties offered to customers with the purchase of goods.

The class action alleges that the JB Hi-Fi extended warranties were of little or no value because customers already had the same rights for free under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The extended warranties have also been called Customer Care, Extended Care or Extra Care.

It alleges that JB Hi-Fi used misleading or deceptive conduct or unconscionable conduct in selling the extended warranties by telling customers either directly, or implying, that the extended warranties operated for longer than the rights under the ACL, provided benefits that the ACL did not, and were of value to customers.

JB Hi-Fi also failed to give customers information about their rights under the ACL, which they needed to be able to make an informed decision.

Compensation is claimed for everyone who bought an extended warranty from JB Hi-Fi between 1 January 2011 and 8 December 2023.

In a statement to the ASX, JB Hi-Fi said it had received a writ and statement of claim from Maurice Blackburn filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria in relation to the class action.

“JB Hi-Fi takes compliance with its legal obligations very seriously and considers that it has complied with relevant laws at all times. JB Hi-Fi intends to vigorously defend the proceedings,” the company said.