The State Of Computer Lemon LawWith millions of people in the United States using computers as well as buying and selling PCs in significant numbers, it is inevitable that technical problems and defects will hamper the computing experiences of many computer users across the country. This reality establishes a perfect climate for addressing the lack of any comprehensive computer lemon law in the U.S. Consumer protection legislation is constantly evolving and in no area is this more clearly evident than in the realm of lemon law. With no actual law in place, the discussion is on in many states as lemon law attorneys have started looking for ways to bring changes to the present policies regarding defective computers. Stated simply, there is not a single official computer lemon law in place in the United States. This is making many consumers ask why. Issues regarding computer malfunctions, the difficulties with dealing with unhelpful technical support networks, unclear warranties that leave much to speculation, and the uncertainty about how to formulate computer lemon law because it includes so many unique factors do not make for any easy fix. Those interested in formulating computer-targeted lemon law must do more than exchange a few words in current forms of lemon laws. The dialogue is ongoing, but only a few clear ideas have managed to take the question to the next level. One such example is happening in Pennsylvania. In the last few years, a prominent lemon law firm, Kimmel & Silverman, has been making headway towards legitimizing computer lemon law in the state of Pennsylvania. Centered on the passing of the House Bill 2284, the attorneys have championed the cause of computer lemon law. It is hoped that this measure will become the first official computer lemon law to be passed in the country and set a precedent by which other states may follow suit. In the meantime, other measures are being followed by the majority of the states. This often involves trying to piece together a collection of current consumer protection laws on both the state and federal levels. Mixed with warranty legislation like the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act are attempts at codifying the terms for declaring a computer a lemon based on the warranties provided by the manufacturer. It really is a fluid situation that is still developing and one that may take more time if House Bill 2284 does not mean all of the expectations that have been placed upon it by computer lemon law advocates. |