For the guarantee to be effective you may need to ensure that you return the registration card to a stated address. Make sure you retain the documentation supplied with the goods which tells you how to make a claim under your guarantee. If you buy goods, such as a television, cooker or washing machine, you may be offered an extended guarantee or extended warranty - but you may have to pay extra for it. If, however, you do decide you want to buy one, check the wording carefully. Make sure you know exactly what it does and does not cover before you sign.
Prices vary considerably and it is well worth shopping around.
Do not choose a firm just because it guarantees its services. A ten-year guarantee for a new extension to your house may be worthless if the firm goes out of business. Insurance-backed guarantee schemes, however, are available through some trade associations to cover building work. For long term schemes make sure that the insurance covers the same period as the guarantee. Guarantees cannot legally be used to exclude or limit a shop's or dealer's liability for selling goods that are defective or do not correspond with their description.