Shopping
A Guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 came into force on 1 October 2015. It replaces three important pieces of legislation relating to consumer rights: The Sale of Go...
Avoiding Counterfeit Goods at Christmas
It’s tempting when you have a lot to buy, to think that you might save a few pounds by buying your Christmas gifts from, shall we say, unorthodox sources....
Budget Supermarkets: Wise Move or a False Economy?
With inflation soaring and dire warnings about the prices of just about everything going up, one area of our expenditure that we do have a little more contro...
Buying by Mail Order
Mail order has long been a popular way of buying items. It can be from ads in the newspaper or magazines, a catalogue, or even online. But is it a safe way o...
Buying by Telephone or E-mail
There are so many ways to buy goods these days. You don't need to go into a shop any more - you can order on the phone or by e-mail, for example. Distance se...
Buying on Credit: Your Rights
There are times when we need to buy things on credit - when you need to replace something expensive and don't have the cash to cover it, for example. The bad...
Can Multipack Items Be Separated?
Anyone who’s gone food shopping in the supermarket will undoubtedly have noticed that some items come in multipacks, with several of it item in a single, w...
Christmas Sale: Don't Get Ripped Off at Christmas!
It's Christmas - and the stores are heaving with people looking out for bargains and discounts on everything from Christmas presents to food. But in the rush...
Consumer Rights and Store Cards
Store cards are very big business – look around and it seems as if everyone is offering them. However, they differ from regular credit cards in a number of...
Faulty Goods
It's happened to us all…you buy something at the shop, get it home and plug it in, only to discover it won't work. But under the law, there are things you...
Food Labelling Explained
Food packaging is designed to be eye catching and to make us want to buy the foods that are on offer, tempting us with their promises and images. But it can...
How to Complain
You may be good at complaining about items that aren't quite right. If not, then you almost certainly know someone who is. But in most cases, it's not persua...
How Will the VAT Price Hikes Affect You?
The VAT we pay on everyday goods increased as of 2 January, and it’s a measure that’s likely to affect just about all consumers. The rate of VAT increase...
Shopping Online: Your Rights
Online shopping has become a fact of life. In 2003 it represented six per cent of total sales, and that figure continues to leap every year. But what rights...
The Consumer Contracts Regulations: Know Your Rights
The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 came into effect on 13 June 2014. They are a way of bringing The Consumer Rights Directive into UK law, and for contr...
Using the Small Claims Court
Most people have heard of small claims court, but relatively few have used it. Yet it's something anyone can use as a way of solving problems. It's often use...
What Guarantees Mean
Many products come with a free guarantee or warranty from the manufacturer. What they promise can vary - a guarantee will often extend to the replacement or...
What Labels Mean
Virtually everything you buy is labelled, from food to clothes to appliances. The labels can cover many things, from country of origin to safety warnings, in...
What to Do With Those Unwanted Gifts!
It’s that time of year when the shops are full of people trying to take back unwanted presents – but if you are one of the people who was presented with...
What To Expect From The Food You Buy
With salmonella, BSE, bird flu and all manner of problems, we've come to realise that the food we buy might not always be safe. Regulations exist to protect...
What You Need to Know About Hire Purchase
Hire purchase is probably the most common way of paying for high ticket items like cars, furniture and computers. But like any credit deal, it can have its p...
What's the Law on Clothes Labelling?
When you look at clothes in a shop, the most important label that most of us - well, women anyway, are interested in is the size label. If you've heard of th...
When Am I Not Entitled to a Refund?
It seems that most people buy things in the expectation that they will be fully entitled to get their money back by way of a full refund if there are any pro...
Your Recourse Over Counterfeit Goods
We live in a time when designer goods are more popular than ever, be it clothing, luggage, shoes or any number of things, making a prime market for fakes. Ev...
Your Rights in Internet Auctions
Buying goods on Internet auction sites like eBay isn't the same as popping into a shop in the High Street, and doesn't confer the same rights. Many auction s...
Your Rights When Buying Goods Abroad
So many of us take trips abroad these days and while we're there we spend money on items to bring home, often consumer goods rather than just souvenirs. Abro...