What are my consumer rights when buying in shops?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to contracts and notices between a “trader” and a “consumer” in relation to goods or services purchased on or after October 1, 2015.
Buying in shops
Goods or services purchased before this date will be subject to the old laws (Sale of Goods Act etc) all goods must:
- Be of a satisfactory quality and of a standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory.
- Be fit for a particular purpose. When you indicate that goods are required for a particular purpose, or where it is obvious that goods are intended for a particular purpose and a trader supplies them to meet that requirement, the goods should be fit for that purpose.
- Match the description, sample or model. When you rely on a description, sample or display model the goods supplied must conform to it. If the goods do not conform, an offence may have been committed.
- Be installed correctly, where installation has been agreed as part of the contract.
All contracts for services must abide by the following:
- The trader performs the service with reasonable care and skill.
- Information which is said either orally or in writing is binding where the consumer relies on it.
- Where the price is not agreed beforehand, the service must be provided for a reasonable price.
- The service must be carried out in a reasonable time.
If the above criteria are not met, the consumer will be entitled to the following remedies:
- The trader should either redo the element of the service which is inadequate or perform the whole service again at no extra cost to you, within a reasonable time and without causing significant inconvenience;
- In circumstances where the repeat performance is impossible, or can’t be done within a reasonable time or without causing significant inconvenience, you can claim a price reduction.
- Depending on how severe the failings are this could be up to 100% of the cost.
Late deliveries
Retailers need to deliver within 30 days, or on the date that has been agreed. If they do not the following applies:
- If it was essential that it was delivered on time, you can terminate the purchase and get a full refund.
- If the delivery isn’t time-sensitive but another reasonable delivery time cannot be agreed, cancel the order and get a full refund. The Consumer Contracts Regulations still apply to items bought online so you have 14 days to return goods, no questions asked.
Contracts
Hiding things in the small print is now banned.
The CRA means all contracts must now clearly state the main elements of the deal and outline the price in a transparent and prominent way.
The terms must be in plain and intelligible language and, if written, in a legible format.
The terms must be prominent so an average well-informed, observant and circumspect consumer would be aware of them.
It’s now not acceptable for key terms to be hidden in pages of terms and conditions that you need a magnify glass to read. Terms other than those specifying the main elements of the contract and setting the price will seen as unfair if:
They are contrary to the requirements of good faith. They must be designed, negotiated and entered into with you in a fair and open way.
They cause a significant imbalance between the rights of the retailer and you as the consumer to the detriment of you.
The CRA provides a three-tier approach to remedy matters when things go wrong:
Tier 1: The short-term right to reject.
If, when supplied, the goods do not meet the purpose they were bought for, there is a period of 30 days (following purchase or delivery) in which you are entitled to reject them.
In this case, you can claim a refund which must be given without undue delay, and in any event within 14 days of the trader agreeing that you are entitled to a refund.
Tier 2: Repair or replacement.
When there is a breach of contract, but you have lost or choose not to exercise your right to reject goods, you will be entitled to claim a repair or replacement.
The trader must do this at no cost, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience.
Tier 3: Price reduction and the final right to reject.
If repair or replacement is not available or is unsuccessful, or is not provided within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience, you can claim a price reduction or reject the goods.
Where repair or replacement fail, you choose whether to keep the goods or return them. If you decide to keep the goods, then your claim for a reduction in price; if you return them, you are rejecting them.
