CONSUMER RIGHTS CONSUMER RIGHTS LEGISLATIONLEGISLATION

TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ACT TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ACT (1968)(1968)

Can’t say your product is something Can’t say your product is something it is not.it is not.

E.g September 2005 Marks and E.g September 2005 Marks and Spencer were fined £10,000 for Spencer were fined £10,000 for claiming that a men’s range was claiming that a men’s range was from Italy when it wasn’t.from Italy when it wasn’t.

CONSUMER CREDIT ACT CONSUMER CREDIT ACT (1974)(1974)

Protects customers who buy now and Protects customers who buy now and pay laterpay later

Customer must get written details.Customer must get written details.

Consumer should be aware of how Consumer should be aware of how the repayments were calculated and the repayments were calculated and details of the repayment dates and details of the repayment dates and how to repayhow to repay

Consumers are also allowed a 30 day Consumers are also allowed a 30 day cooling off period.cooling off period.

The government is in the process of The government is in the process of up-dating this piece of legislation.up-dating this piece of legislation.

Read the following article:Read the following article:

New Consumer Credit LawNew Consumer Credit Law

SALE OF GOODS ACT (1979)SALE OF GOODS ACT (1979)

Includes some amendments:Includes some amendments:

Sale and Supply of Goods Act (1994) Sale and Supply of Goods Act (1994) and Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act and Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act (1995)(1995)

This legislation applies to both new This legislation applies to both new and second-hand goods.and second-hand goods.

Protects consumers by ensuring that:Protects consumers by ensuring that:

goods are of a “satisfactory quality” – goods are of a “satisfactory quality” – last a length of time and no defects.last a length of time and no defects.

goods are as “described” – honestly goods are as “described” – honestly described and advertised described and advertised

fit for purpose – products must do as fit for purpose – products must do as they saythey say

If a consumer buys something that If a consumer buys something that does not meet any of these does not meet any of these conditions they have a right to conditions they have a right to demand their money back from the demand their money back from the person or shop they bought it from.person or shop they bought it from.

They do not have the right to get the They do not have the right to get the money back from the manufacturer.money back from the manufacturer.

CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (1987)(1987)

Ensures that prices are accurately Ensures that prices are accurately displayed in a shop, catalogue or displayed in a shop, catalogue or advertadvert

Cannot knowingly sell unsafe goods.Cannot knowingly sell unsafe goods.

Goods should also comply with Goods should also comply with general safety requirements.general safety requirements.

THE CONSUMER PROTECTION THE CONSUMER PROTECTION (DISTANCE SELLING) REGULATIONS (DISTANCE SELLING) REGULATIONS

(2000)(2000)

These regulations are designed to These regulations are designed to protect consumers who purchases protect consumers who purchases products without actually seeing the products without actually seeing the seller.seller.

This could be on-line, by telephone, This could be on-line, by telephone, fax, mail order or television.fax, mail order or television.

Consumers are entitled to:Consumers are entitled to: clear written information on the product before clear written information on the product before

placing an orderplacing an order

A “cooling off period” of five days, during which A “cooling off period” of five days, during which the consumer can cancelthe consumer can cancel

A full refund if the products are not provided by A full refund if the products are not provided by the agreed date or within 30 daysthe agreed date or within 30 days

Protection against credit card fraudProtection against credit card fraud

Read the following article Read the following article

Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) RegulatioConsumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulationsns