Rhode Island § 6-45-3 - Consumer Enforcement of Assistive Technology Device Warranties

§ 6-45-3. Repair of assistive technology device with nonconformity.

(a) If a new assistive technology device or demonstrator has a nonconformity and the consumer first reports that nonconformity to the manufacturer of the device or its authorized dealer within Term B, then the manufacturer of the device shall be jointly obligated, together with any authorized dealer if an assistive technology device dealer was involved in the sale or lease of the device, to effect any repairs as are necessary to conform the device to all warranties, notwithstanding that those repairs might be made after the expiration of Term B.

(b) For all purposes of this chapter, a consumer reports a nonconformity when he or she:

(1) Makes any communication, written or oral, that describes a problem with the device, or that may be reasonably understood as an expression of dissatisfaction with any aspect of the operation of the device, which communication need only indicate in any way the nature of the problem, such as an indication of the functions that the device is not achieving or achieving unsatisfactorily to the consumer, and need not be in technical language or attempt to state the cause of the problem;

(2) Does not refuse to make the device available to the manufacturer or dealer for repair; and

(3) The problem indicated by the consumer’s communication constitutes, or is caused by, a nonconformity.

(c) It shall be presumed that the consumer has made the device available to the manufacturer or dealer for repair if he or she allows the manufacturer or dealer to take it from the consumer’s home or other location where the user customarily uses the device. The consumer shall be required to deliver the device to another location only upon a showing that it would be a substantially greater hardship for the manufacturer and dealer to take the device from the consumer’s home, or other location where the user customarily uses the device, than for the consumer to deliver the device.

(d) Whether or not the rights of the consumer provided by § 6-45-5(a) have arisen, and in addition to the remedies relating to collateral costs provided by this chapter, a person who is under an obligation to repair pursuant to this section is obliged immediately to provide the consumer a loaner if the absence of a loaner would be a threat to the safety of the user, but in any event when the out-of-service period exceeds seven (7) days as determined by § 6-45-4(b) and (c).