Dixons, 惑星 and Argos to 開始する，打ち上げる price comparison website for warranties

By This Is Money Reporter

Updated: 17:13 BST, 27 June 2012

Dixons, 惑星 and Argos will 設立する a price comparison website for 延長するd warranties and 行為／行う mystery shopping 演習s as part of a 合法的に 施行するd-運動 to stop 顧客s 存在 ripped off.

The 対策 提案するd by the shops were 受託するd by the 消費者 監視者 the Office of Fair 貿易（する）ing, which 最高潮の場面d 関心s over the 欠如（する） of 競争 in the market in a 熟考する／考慮する published last February.

The retailers, which are the largest providers of such 保証（人）s, will 始める，決める up, publicise and 持続する a price comparison website 同様に as 供給する in-蓄える／店 ちらしs on the availability of 代案／選択肢 providers.

New 対策: Argos is one of the three retailers to 始める，決める up a warranties price comparison website 同様に as 行為／行う mystery shopping 演習s

They will also 行為／行う mystery shopping 演習s to 確実にする shoppers get 正確な （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from sales staff and 報告（する）／憶測 the findings 支援する to the OFT.

The 監視者's 熟考する／考慮する of the £1billion per year 延長するd warranty market showed that only a ４半期/4分の1 of 消費者s shop around and compare prices when they buy a warranty, おもに because shops have a point-of-sale advantage in 存在 able to sell warranties at the same time as they sell the goods.

Warranties are supposed to help if expensive items need 修理 or 交替／補充 after the 製造業者’s 保証（人） runs out.

Ann ローマ法王, director in the OFT's goods and 消費者 group, said: ‘We think the undertakings we have 安全な・保証するd are important for shoppers, who will now have better 接近 to the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） they need to make an 知らせるd 決定／判定勝ち（する） when choosing an 延長するd warranty.

‘We welcome the 建設的な approach taken by Dixons, 惑星 and Argos to agree this practical 解答, which will bring more 即座の 利益s for 消費者s, and 避ける the 重荷（を負わせる） on 商売／仕事 of その上の 調査.’

Dixons has also agreed to 供給する （疑いを）晴らす on-shelf （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about the 年次の 同等（の） prices of 支払う／賃金 As You Go (PAYG) warranties, to help shoppers understand the longer-称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 costs when they enter these rolling 月毎の 契約s. Dixons is the only one of the th ree retailers to sell PAYG warranties.

にもかかわらず the new 対策, the 財政上の Ombudsman Service, which 取引，協定s with （民事の）告訴s against 財政上の service companies, said it continued to see high levels of （民事の）告訴s about warranties, with 881 new （民事の）告訴s received last year.

The FOS is 支持するing two-thirds of （民事の）告訴s in the 消費者's favour, with the main 主題s 存在 mis-sold 政策s, 誤って導くing 政策 言い回し and the 保険会社 inadequately putting things 権利 to settle the （人命などを）奪う，主張する.