Christmas
time can be stressful and expensive so to make sure you're getting the most out
of your pennies, check out our shopping survival guide:
Buying Online - In most cases if you shop online you
have a right to cancel and receive a full refund, even if you just don’t like
the goods or have simply changed your mind. You normally have 14 days to cancel
a contract unless the goods have been made specifically for you.
Know
who you are buying from and make sure you know where the
trader is based. Check that online retailers are
safe; ensure that the locked padlock symbol is visible when paying and be wary
of websites that ask for personal information and are not high street names.
Faulty goods - You have statutory rights if goods you have purchased are faulty or not fit for purpose. Try to keep receipts or email confirmations as it will help if things go wrong and don’t delay in complaining. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 stores must offer a full refund if a faulty item is returned within 30 days
Unwanted gifts - Your statutory rights do not apply if you simply changed your mind. However, many shops have their own returns policy or offer a gift receipt, particularly when it comes to Christmas gifts, so you may find the shop is willing to refund or exchange your unwanted item without question. This does not impact in anyway, your legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 Check out the store’s returns policy before you buy. Remember if you bought online, you may have additional rights - see above.
Product safety - Be safe this Christmas whether you are
looking to buy Christmas lights, electrical goods as presents or even an extra
heater to keep you warm. Make sure that your intended purchases have a CE mark,
the manufacturer's identity or mark, ensure that it has a 3 pin plug, and more
complex items should have warnings and instructions for use supplied The same advice applies
to all toys, whether they are large expensive items or pocket money 'stocking
fillers'.
Fakes
- In
the current financial climate you may be tempted by a product for sale at a
cheaper price. But, watch out. counterfeit goods such as computer games,
clothing, perfume, electrical hair straighteners and jewellery may appear to
be a bargain, but in practice they rarely are. The quality is often very poor. Electrical
goods may be a fire or electrical shock hazard and perfumes and cosmetics may
contain harmful substances. Plus you may be supporting organised crime with
your purchase and you are depriving the legitimate industry and those who sell
genuine goods.
Buying goods on your credit card - For items costing over £100, use a credit card as you get additional protection even if you only use your card to pay a small amount. If
something goes wrong and the trader won’t help, the credit card company may
have to step in. But make sure you pay it off in
January to avoid interest charges.
Christmas loans - Some people may look to borrow in order to afford Christmas,and may even resort to using loan sharks. These illegal money lenders are unlicensed and operate outside the law. They not only take advantage of vulnerable borrowers but also bring disrepute to legitimate lenders and charge extortionate
rates of interest. You must be certain if you are borrowing money that it is
only coming from a reputable lender. Do you understand exactly what you are
signing up to and what will happen if your financial situation gets worse? If you are in a circumstance where you have a bad credit
history but are in need of a loan, consider seeking support from a Credit Union
who can provide an effective and viable alternative to the so called ‘pay day
lenders.’
To find your
local credit union visit www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk or call the
Association of British Credit Unions (Abcul) on 0161 832 3694.
Call out charges - Not
everything runs smoothly at Christmas. If you have
to call out a tradesman for an emergency repair during this festive
season make sure you know what the ‘call out’ or ‘minimum charge’ will be
before you agree. Make sure you both understand what work will be carried out,
what it will cost (or how it will be calculated) and when and how the trader
expects payment. A trader must provide an invoice or receipt showing full
details of work carried out, including any parts supplied, labour and other
costs. A trader must make any "call out" charge or "minimum
charge" known to the customer prior to a visit being made. Remember, some home insurance policies may cover emergencies!
These warnings may seem
extreme in some cases but experience shows that many people could be
ripped off, or injured by poor quality gifts over the festive period......be
careful what you buy this Christmas and where you buy it from.
Trading Standards wish you all a happy & safe Christmas.
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