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Consumers get a legal warranty and a right of withdrawal

Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Stable

Abroad, sellers often set their own warranty or sell as is; in Colombia every producer and supplier owes a legal warranty, one year for new products when no term is stated, and producer and seller answer jointly. Distance and online sales carry a 5 business day right of withdrawal, and electronic payments must be reversed in cases of fraud, non delivery or defects. The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio can fine up to 2,000 monthly minimum wages and close establishments or websites.

USD figures use the TRM (tasa representativa del mercado) of COP 3,157.94 per US dollar valid on 27 October 2026, certified by the Superintendencia Financiera and published on datos.gov.co. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Legal warranty for new products when no term is stated	12 monthsLey 1480 de 2011 art. 8, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Right of withdrawal in distance and financed sales	5 business daysLey 1480 de 2011 art. 47, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Maximum refund term after withdrawal in electronic commerce	15 calendar daysLey 1480 de 2011 art. 47; Ley 2439 de 2024 art. 3, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Maximum consumer protection fine for companies	2000 monthly minimum wagesLey 1480 de 2011 art. 61, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
TRM used for conversions on this page	3157.94 COP per USDTRM certified by the Superintendencia Financiera, valid 27 October 2026, as of 2026-10-27 · in force

The rule

1. Every producer and supplier must answer for the quality, suitability, safety and proper working of its products. The warranty term is the one set by law or the authority, otherwise the one announced; if none is stated it is one year for new products. Used products are sold without warranty only if the consumer accepts it clearly in writing, otherwise three months apply. For real estate the warranty covers stability of the work for 10 years and finishes for one year.
Cost to do it: Cost of repair, replacement or refund within the warranty.
Example: A new appliance sold for COP 2,400,000 without a stated warranty carries a one year legal warranty from delivery. / About US$760.Ley 1480 de 2011, Estatuto del Consumidor (Diario Oficial 48.220, 12 October 2011, in force 12 April 2012), Art. 7 and art. 8, 2011-10-12 official text · verified 2026-10-27

2. Before consumers, producers and suppliers are jointly liable for the legal warranty, and proof of the defect is enough, save legal defenses. The warranty includes free repair including transport and parts; if the product cannot be repaired, replacement or refund; and if the fault repeats, the consumer chooses between a new repair, total or partial refund or replacement.
Cost to do it: Repair, replacement or refund at the seller's cost.
Example: A foreign brand's Colombian distributor cannot send a consumer back to the manufacturer: both answer. / Not a fee rule.Ley 1480 de 2011, Art. 10 and art. 11, 2011-10-12 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. In sales financed by the supplier, timeshares, and non traditional or distance sales, the consumer has a right of withdrawal for 5 business days from delivery of the good, or from contract signature for services, with refund of the money; the consumer returns the product and bears return costs. Exceptions include services already begun with consent, personalised goods, perishables and goods for personal use. In electronic commerce, the refund cannot take more than 15 calendar days after the consumer exercises the right and meets its obligations.
Cost to do it: Refund of the price; return transport is borne by the consumer.
Example: An online store that delivers a COP 2,400,000 laptop on a Monday must accept withdrawal until the following Monday and refund within 15 calendar days. / About US$760 refunded.Ley 1480 de 2011, art. 47 (refund term inciso amended by Ley 2439 de 2024 art. 3), Art. 47, 2011-10-12 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Ley 2439 de 2024 set the 15 calendar day refund limit for electronic commerce.

4. In electronic commerce sales paid by credit, debit or other electronic payment instrument, the payment participants must reverse the payment when the consumer claims fraud, an unrequested operation, non delivery, or a product that is defective or not as ordered. The consumer must complain to the supplier within 5 business days, return the product where applicable and notify the card issuer.
Cost to do it: The sale amount is reversed pending resolution.
Example: A marketplace seller that ships the wrong model faces a chargeback through the card issuer, not just a customer service claim. / Not a fee rule.Ley 1480 de 2011, Art. 51, 2011-10-12 official text · verified 2026-10-27

5. The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio may impose fines of up to 2,000 monthly minimum wages, temporary closure of the establishment for up to 180 days, and for repeat offences definitive closure or removal of a website; managers, legal representatives and statutory auditors who authorised violations can be fined up to 300 monthly minimum wages and barred from trade for up to 5 years. Under Ley 2294 de 2023 art. 313, fines set in minimum wages are computed by their UVB equivalence.
Cost to do it: Fines up to 2,000 monthly minimum wages for the company and 300 for individuals.
Example: Repeated refusal to honour warranties can lead to a fine, closure of the store and orders to remove the online shop. / Not a fee rule.Ley 1480 de 2011; Ley 2294 de 2023, Ley 1480 art. 61; Ley 2294 art. 313, 2011-10-12 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Worked example

A foreign electronics brand launches direct online sales in Colombia. It must honour a one year legal warranty jointly with its distributor, accept returns within 5 business days of delivery for most products, refund within 15 calendar days, and expect card payment reversals for undelivered or defective orders.

Step by step

State warranty terms clearly on products and in online checkout.
Set up a returns process that meets the 5 business day withdrawal and 15 day refund limits.
Agree with distributors how joint warranty liability is shared, since consumers can claim from either.
Train customer service on payment reversal claims.

Common traps

Silence on warranty does not mean no warranty: one year applies to new products.
Selling used goods without warranty requires the consumer's clear written acceptance.
Managers and statutory auditors can be fined personally.

Sources

← Corporations and branches need a statutory auditor