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Consumer Rights:
We all love shopping, but how can you make sure you don’t get ripped off? Well whether we're buying something in the high street, over the phone, by post or via the internet, we are all protected by a whole range of laws and regulations.
This area of the law is known as ‘Consumer Rights’ and it lays out a set of rules that shops must follow. Many of the laws that cover the sale of goods in shops come under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended). This makes sure that whenever a retailer sells you something it must be:
- Of Satisfactory Quality - This covers the look and feel of goods, their safety and how long they are expected to last. Anything you buy should not be broken or damaged, unless the trader points out any damage to you. You will occasionally see goods sold at a lower price because they are shop soiled or slightly damaged.
- Fit for their purpose - If you tell the seller that you want to buy a waterproof coat and it turns out it isn’t, you can ask for your money back. Retailers must also make sure that all the goods they sell are safe for use. If a retailer knows that something is unsafe and sells it anyway he or she can be prosecuted by Trading Standards.
- As described - This can mean either of the packaging, on a sign in store or by the seller. If you buy a 100% leather bag it shouldn’t turn out to be made of plastic.
We all have bought something from time to time that isn’t working the way it should. If there is anything wrong with something you have bought, you need to tell the seller about it as soon as possible. If you tell the shop where you bought the goods from that they are faulty, you should be able to get a refund.
There can be exceptions to these rules. You are unlikely to get a refund if you have damaged the goods yourself or if you bought something knowing full well it was faulty. Also if you bought something by mistake there is no guarantee you will get a refund but some retailer occasionally do this as an act of good faith.