ANY reader who has been to buy any electrical goods recently will no doubt have been offered an extended warranty or guarantee. The question is - do you really need them?

We take for granted the fact that most goods or services are usually offered with a guarantee - for example, a new washing machine may be offered with a 12-month guarantee, or double glazing may come with a ten-year guarantee.

In consumer law, guarantees are defined as "a promise that something will be done or will happen", and in the case of goods or services this is usually an undertaking to carry out free repairs for problems that can be attributed to manufacturing defects.

Warranties provide the same sort of cover as a guarantee, but often last for a longer period and usually at an extra charge. Often known as extended warranties, they are effectively insurance policies/service agreements. The Consumers' Association Which? magazine argues that most of these warranties do not make financial sense - because the chances are the appliance will not break down within the warranted period and if it does the cost of the repair will be less than cost of the policy.

In any case, the warranties and guarantees are in addition to your statutory rights under either the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) or the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.

If you have problems with goods or services it is best to go back to the person you bought them from - they are legally obliged to sort the problems out if the goods are faulty, not as described or not fit for a purpose made known to the seller.

Manufacturers are not legally-obliged to provide you with a guarantee, but if they do it must be in plain English and clearly explain how to make a claim. Even though you did not pay for it, a guarantee is a legally-binding contract under the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.

Remember, in the case of guarantees, they are only valid as long as the company is still trading. If they cease trading or are taken over by another firm the contract and the guarantee will become worthless and unenforceable. Buying an insurance-backed guarantee, underwritten by a separate insurance company, can solve this problem. Some insurance companies now offer this type of insurance to cover a number items - this may be cheaper than individual warranties. However, in the long run it is best to work out whether it is really worth paying for this sort of cover.

For further information about this, contact City of York Trading Standards. Phone us on 01904 551562 for advice or to make an appointment to see a Consumer Adviser. We are situated at 9 St Leonard's Place.

Updated: 08:59 Thursday, August 07, 2003