It’s good to be armed with information when you’re not happy with a good or service. Quoting a few laws will guarantee you walk out of the shop with your money back. I was in a shop once bringing back a faulty lamp and the shop wanted to send it back to the manufacturers. I knew my contract was with the shop, not the manufacturers, so I quoted the’ Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980′ as my reference and they gave me my money back!

Below are the basics of what you need to know. For further information, or to make an official complaint, go to http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/

Consumer contracts are protected by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980.

Under this Act the purchaser of goods has a number of rights – the points ones are

• Goods must be of merchantable quality – goods should be of reasonable quality taking into account what they are meant to do, their durability and their price
• Goods must be fit for their purpose – they must do what they are reasonably expected to do
• Goods must be as described – the buyer must not be mislead into buying something by the description of goods or services given orally by a salesperson or an advertisement.

When you buy goods in a sale you have the same rights as when you pay full price for the goods.

If things go wrong

If you have a problem with an item that you have bought it is always the seller who should put things right. As a general rule, the seller can either repair or replace the item. Alternatively, they should refund the costs of the item or service to the consumer.

If you are not satisfied with the quality of goods or services you can:

• Return the goods to the supplier who sold it to you (you should not return the goods to the manufacturer)
• Act as soon as you can – a delay can indicate that you have accepted faulty goods or services
• Do not attempt to repair the item yourself or give it to anyone else to repair it
• Make sure that you have a proof of purchase (a receipt, cheque stub, credit card statement or invoice)

You have no grounds for redress if:

• You were told about the defect before you bought the item (for example, if the goods were marked ’shopsoiled’)
• You examined the item before you bought it and should have seen the defect
• You bought the item knowing that it wasn’t fit for what you wanted it to do
• You broke or damaged the product
• You made a mistake when buying the item (for example, if you bought an item of clothing thinking it was black when it is actually navy)
• You change your mind
• Retailers are not obliged to give refunds or credit notes under the above circumstances even if you show proof of purchase.

Paying deposits

If you pay a deposit to a supplier who, in return, holds an article for you and you change your mind about paying the balance the supplier may not in all these circumstances be obliged to return your deposit.

Gift vouchers

If a gift voucher has an expiry date. the shop is not obliged to honour the voucher after the expiry date.
If a voucher doesn’t actually state an expiry date, this does not mean that the shop operates an open ended expiry policy.
If a shop refuses to honour a voucher that doesn’t specify an expiry date, you have the option to refer the matter to the Small Claims Court.

Information on Goods, Services and Prices

Consumers are entitled to information which protects them from false claims about goods, services and prices under the Consumer Protection Act 2007. Under the act it is an offence for any retailer or professional to make a false or misleading claim about goods, services and prices. It is also an offence to sell goods which bear a false or misleading description.
This act also covers claims about prices. Actual prices, previous prices and recommended prices of goods and services must be stated truthfully. Where a price is stated it should be clear what particular item it relates to. It should be the total price and there should be no hidden extras.

If a retailer makes a mistake the buyer does not have the right to demand that the goods be sold to them at the marked price.

Good luck and remember quote the law and it’s guaranteed to work! – Value Vera