§ 24. Repair of the defect

This section gives the consumer the right to demand that the service provider repairs a defect, provided that it does not become unreasonably expensive or burdensome for the service provider. Repair of the defect is the first claim when there is a defect, and it normally takes place at the service provider's expense.

The right also goes the other way. Even if the consumer does not ask for it, the service provider may fix the fault. In that case, the repair must not trouble the consumer to any significant degree, and the consumer must not have a good reason to say no. Example: the service provider offers to come back and fix the fault, and the consumer has no particular reason to refuse. Then the service provider may do so.

There is a time frame. The service provider must fix the fault within a reasonable time, counted from when the consumer complained and gave them a chance to do so.

The main rule is that the service provider covers the cost. There is an exception for price supplements: the service provider can charge for work and materials that were not included in the price and that would have been necessary even if the job had been done correctly the first time. In other words, the consumer cannot get a free upgrade under the guise of repair of the defect.

This section is at the centre of the claims available when there is a defect. § 21 gives the overview, and § 24 is the first claim. If the defect is not repaired, price reduction (prisavslag) in § 25 and cancellation of the contract (heving) in § 26 come into play, and § 23 lets the consumer withhold payment (holde betalingen tilbake) in the meantime. The rules on notice of complaint (reklamasjon) in § 22 must also be followed.