A repair or installation service was done badly — what's my remedy?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Services are covered too, not just goods. Under the Consumer Act (RA 7394), a service supplier is liable for imperfections that make the service inadequate or that fall short of what was offered (Art. 100), and a service is deemed defective when it fails to give the safety a consumer may rightfully expect (Art. 99). Your practical remedy is to require the provider to re-do or correct the work; if the imperfection is not corrected, you can demand the re-performance of the service at no added cost, the reimbursement of what you paid (with monetary updating), or a proportionate reduction of the price. Put the complaint and the defect in writing, keep the job order/receipt and photos, give a deadline to fix it, and if the provider refuses, file a consumer complaint with the DTI.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
Does the Consumer Act cover services or only products?
Both. RA 7394 Art. 99 addresses defective services and Art. 100 covers liability for service imperfection, with remedies including re-performance, reimbursement, or a price reduction.
What can I demand for a badly done job?
Require correction first; if the imperfection is not fixed, you may demand re-performance of the service at no extra cost, reimbursement of the price paid (with monetary updating), or a proportionate reduction of the price (Art. 100).
The bad installation damaged my property — can I claim more?
Yes, potentially. Beyond the service remedy, you may seek damages; a service that fails the safety a consumer may rightfully expect is defective under Art. 99, and general Civil Code liability for negligence can also apply.
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Your rights when something you bought is defective — the repair, replacement, or refund a seller owes you under the Consumer Act (RA 7394, Arts. 68 and 100), why a blanket "No Return, No Exchange" sign is illegal (a deceptive sales act the DTI prohibits), the free implied warranty you get even without a warranty card (60 days to 1 year on new products), hidden defects discovered after purchase and the 6-month redhibition action under the Civil Code (Arts. 1561, 1566, 1567, 1571), the Price Tag Act rule that you cannot be charged more than the displayed tag (Art. 81), the Philippine Lemon Law (RA 10642) for a brand-new car with the same defect after 4 repair attempts within 12 months or 20,000 km, defective services, manufacturer vs seller liability, and how to file a DTI complaint. This cluster is about legitimate purchases that turn out defective — online-shopping fraud and fakes live in the Scams & Online Fraud cluster.