The repair bonus seems to be a failure

Despite all the government’s efforts, the repair bonus is struggling to convince. For example, The fault of an overly complex system, unregulated sector prices and fraud, which slow down its adoption.

To combat electronic pollution, the government has set up a repair bonus for several years. Nevertheless, As a reminder. Similarly, this premium aims to encourage consumers to have their electrical or electronic apparatus on a breakdown rather than buying new ones to replace them, as is too often the case (see our article) – because their perpetual renewal has a significant cost, both in terms of used resources and waste. Nevertheless, Its amount is deducted directly from the invoice, without requiring the slightest formality. For example, To take advantage of it, you must contact an approved repairer, recognizable by the Qualirépar label. Furthermore, First limited to a handful of devices, repair bonus seems failure it has since extended to large ranges of products.

If the initiative was rather well received by consumers. For example, it did not have the expected success, at least with regard to high-tech devices. Consequently, The UFC-Que Choisir association has brought an assessment for this sector, and it is far from successful. Meanwhile, The fault of an unregulated sector, a little readable offer and too complex procedures.

Repair bonus: a measure that struggles to convince

According to the conclusions provided by consumption. However, housing, living environment (CLCV), the repair bonus has not really led to an increase in repair, if we except the increase in early 2024. However, A shame! Consequently, So, Only 19 % of the envelope allocated to the Repair Fund was used last year. Therefore, despite the government decided to double its amount for certain products. A situation that is explained by several factors.

First. French users simply are not used to opting for the repair solution in the event of a device failure. According to ADEME, 72 % of French people preferred to buy a new product following a breakdown or a breakage in 2024. This is partly explained because electronics (new) has never been so affordable thanks to the many promotions offered by. the major high-tech brands. According to the UFC-Que Choisir, the prices of household appliances have dropped between 50 and 70 % in 25 years.

On the contrary, repairs prices have continued to increase. Since the entry into force of the famous bonus in 2022, prices have generally climbed between 10 and 20 %. This increase is even 30 % for vacuum cleaners, and 60 % for fridges and freezers. Since replacing the screens has been supported, the bill has gone repair bonus seems failure from 88 to € 122 instead of € 88. And it would be a direct consequence of the law.

Bonus repair: increase in prices and too complex procedures

These increases are due to the trigger threshold system. Indeed, the repair bonus applies only to certain devices when the invoice exceeds a specific threshold. For a printer, you must for example have € 150 for repair to obtain € 50 bonus. The same scale applies to laptops, PC screens or even scanners. Problem: some repairers do not hesitate to artificially inflate the bill to reach this threshold. allow customers to benefit from help. We then lead to a strange paradox: the device supposed to facilitate repair ends up dissuading part of the households. especially the most modest, to use it.

And it is not the complexity of the procedure repair bonus seems failure that will arrange things! To benefit from the repair premium. it is necessary to go through a professional labeled Qualirépar, and the latter do not run the streets, because they have to pay membership fees and comply with heavy requirements to obtain this precious distinction. For example. for household appliances, you have to pay a right of € 200 while meeting a 31 -page long specifications – and again, the government has reduced these costs since the entry into force of the premium!

To this must be added a rather complicated procedure to obtain the payment of the famous bonus. since the amount is invoiced directly to professionals, being deducted from the customer’s invoice. The latter must take a photo of each product before. after repair, detail the modifications made, make a digital invoice and send it to a dedicated platform. The craftsmen then lose a lot of time in repair bonus seems failure administrative … There is also the problem of fraud. abuses, because some labeled professionals refuse to apply the repair bonus to their customers, while it is however compulsory, or on the contrary edit false invoices to pocket the jackpot.

The UFC-Que-Choisir provides some lines of reflection to make the bonus repair more attractive. First, the association strongly encourages prices by avoiding excess price and reinforcing the transparency of costs for consumers. It also suggests extending. simplifying the network of approved repairers, in order to facilitate access to the premium and reduce territorial disparities. Finally, public services must increase communication around the system.