You’re Rights as a Christmas Shopper

Christmas is just around the corner which means people who don’t have a lot of money are expected to buy family gifts. You just simply cannot afford to make the mistake of buying gifts online which turn out to be wrong and you are stuck with an item which is no good which has also left you short changed.

People can easily forget that when shopping online they still have rights similar to those when making a purchase in a store; this includes items bought in a sale.

When making a purchase online in the UK, there are certain levels of safety and protection which prevent buying faulty goods without returns or reimbursement. As well as this, consumers are protected by a seven working day cooling off period.

Online retailers are required by law to display their returns policy, so when making a purchase online, ensure to check the policy and that it states how you are protected against damaged goods as well as how long you have to send back an item should you decide you do not want it.

As well as being able to return an item, you should also be reimbursed for any postage and packaging costs you have had to pay for.

The Distant Selling Act also means that retailers are required to show their telephone numbers and addresses on their site. So if you are considering making a purchase, ensure this information is available to ensure the retailer is lawful and abiding by the law.

If you make a purchase online and the goods arrive damaged, you have every right to return the item and expect a full refund. The Sales of Goods Act bought out in 1979 requires all items to be of ‘satisfactory quality’ and fit for their usual purpose and be as described in the item description.

If you find you are in receipt of damaged goods, then the store is under obligation by law to either reimburse you or swap the item.

This also applies to goods bought in a sale. Many people are led to believe that if you buy goods in a sale, then you don’t have the same protection as you would if you bought items at their RRP. This is not the case, the same rules apply and items should arrive as described or a full refund should be given if there is a problem.

Buying online is not the same as buying from a store. Infact, it would seem that you are protected more by making a purchase online.

High street retailers can sometimes be less helpful when dealing with a problem regarding an item sold in store. High street retailers would require a receipt to prove the item was bought in the store; without a receipt, they can refuse a refund.

The last thing you want to do when buying a gift for Christmas is to give over the receipt to the one you have bought the gift for. Thankfully, an increasing number of stores are not providing receipts without the purchase price shown. This means, if there is a problem, you can give the receipt without the person knowing how much was paid.

The Christmas period is right on our doorstep and purchases are going to increase rapidly, and if you are one of those people who is considering buying your gifts online, ensure you are buying from a credible store which shows on their site that they are abiding by the law and displaying such things as their policy and address details.

Also look for some reviews or feedback from previous consumers who bought from the site which gives a little added confidence that you are not about to be ripped off by some ‘back of the lorry’ company who could make a great experience become a nightmare.

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Nicky Bullimore has been writing articles on a various topics for a number of years. For more information about Consumer credit and debt visit www.goodbye2debt.co..uk

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