Thursday 26 November 2020
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are here, heralding the start of the busy Christmas shopping period.
It's extremely important you know your rights, so we've put together this guide to help. Please either take a moment to read it now, or keep it just in case.
This guide is compiled of the common issues and questions we here at Trading Standards are asked.
When buying either locally or online, you're entering into a contract protected by legal rights - guarantees and warrants do not affect these rights.
If you are buying goods sold in a shop they should be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If they aren't, you are entitled to a remedy, which can either be a refund, repair or replacement depending on the circumstances. You don't have to put up with a substandard product.
If you're buying locally, make sure you check the returns policy of the shop - although they are not obliged to accept goods back if you change your mind, many will have some form of returns policy in place.
If you're buying online from a UK-based seller, you can cancel the order from the time it is placed until 14-days after you have received it - although you will have to pay the cost of returning the item(s) unless the trader has agreed to cover this beforehand. The seller is also responsible for getting it to you - if it arrives damaged, you need to contact who you bought it from.
If you're returning a faulty product to a UK-seller, they must bear any reasonable cost of that return. If you're not sure whether to keep something you've bought online from the UK, don't handle it too much as if you do, it may reduce the chances of you getting a full refund.
The EU has similar consumer legislation to the UK and if you buy anything from other parts of the world, their local consumer protection laws will apply.
Using a credit card for purchases between £100 and £30,000 will give you additional protections as these are covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
If you're buying online, make sure you know who you are buying from. Check the seller's history, feedback and reviews. Review the website, if there are spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, it's highly likely it isn't genuine. If it's a co.uk web address, it doesn't mean the seller from the UK - check the address and phone number. Remember if it seems too good to be true, it probably is - the latest generation of games consoles are almost impossible to get hold of, so be very wary of any site you've never heard of claiming to have stock.
Lastly, recently we have seen a rise in the number of scams targeting Bailiwick residents claiming to be from online retailers, in particular from Amazon. It's likely this will increase during Black Friday to Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping season - they'll claim your Prime needs to be updated or that fake transactions have taken place on your account, before asking for your bank or other personal details. Our advice is simple: just hang up. If you're concerned, contact Amazon through legitimate and advertised routes.
If you require any more information or advice please contact Trading Standards on 233583 or email tradingstandards@gov.gg.
