IT’S Black Friday today, November 29 and Cyber Monday on December 2 and Trading Standards are reminding consumers about their high street and online shopping rights.
Scott Tompkins, assistant director for environment services at at Warwickshire County Council said: “It’s important that consumers understand that they still have their consumer legal rights, even if they are buying goods in a sale.”
Trading Standards Top Ten Tips for high street and online shoppers:
If something you buy is faulty or wrongly described, you have 30 days to return it and claim a refund. After 30 days you must give the retailer an opportunity to repair or replace it before you can claim a refund. These rights apply when buying in store or online.
You have extra rights when shopping online. You have a 14 day cooling off period to change your mind and return/cancel most goods or services purchased online from a UK or EU trader. The goods don’t have to be faulty, but you might be asked to pay to return unwanted items.
You have no legal rights to return goods you purchased in a shop, simply because you changed your mind, but many stores do offer to do this.
Keep your receipts as proof of purchase and if you’re buying the goods as a present, ask for a gift receipt.
For purchases over £100, if you have a credit card consider using it to give you extra consumer protection.
If you’re shopping online, try to use traders you know and trust.
For online shopping, always use a secure form of payment, for example PayPal. Never simply transfer money.
Do not enter your card details in to a website unless it is secure. Look out for the padlock sign and ‘https’ in the web address.
To make a consumer complaint call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.
