Jun/090
Not all on-line shops abide by consumer rights regulations
On-line shopping is becoming more and more popular, as it takes out the stress of having to visit shops, try things out, stand in long queues etc. however, research has shown that not all on-line retailers are sticking to the regulations of Consumer Rights.
Around 31% of on-line shops do not refund the full cost of the item returned, 40% of sites had hidden costs, 14% did not provide a land address and 15% did not make it known to consumers that their order could be cancelled 7 working days after they have received the goods.
Consumers who shop on-line are covered by the Distance Selling Regulations, who enforce their rights and the OFT are urging on-line retailers to check their sites and make sure they abide by the regulations there to protect the consumer.
Jun/091
Your Rights as a Consumer
As a consumer, you have certain rights that retailers must comply with. For example, if you are buying a product it must explain on the packaging what the product is, what it does, date of expiry if it is food, the colour of the product and the size. If the product doesn’t ‘do what it says on the tin’ so to say, the retailer has a “legal obligation” to rectify the problem. This also applies to the “28 day rule”, where as the consumer has 28 days to bring back the product in exchange for their money back, or an exchange, if the product is not what they expected or it doesn’t fit etc.
Another right that the consumer has that they are to be charged the price that is indicated. So if they get to the till and the product is more expensive than was clearly stated either on or by the product, they have the right to challenge the retailer then, or taking it to the local trading standards office, as this is false advertisement. Credit cards are also liable to for faulty goods and services if they have cost the consumer over £100.
Services provided by a plumber, joiner, electrician etc are covered by the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. This states that the work they do has to be done within a “reasonable time, price and skill”. If this is not the case the consumer has every right to ask them to rectify the problem, or go to their employer if they won’t to claim back the costs.
 |
 |
