These days, faulty goods are a way of life. It seems to no
longer come as a surprise when your latest expensive gizmo stops
working for no discernible reason three hours after you get it out
of the box.
Luckily, in the UK, we've always been able to exercise our
consumer rights to get a refund for a defective product providing
we act before a) the shop tells you to get lost, or b) the shop
goes bust.
However, under a new European directive this might all change.
Rules may be imposed by EU bureaucrats that will make it impossible
for shoppers to get a refund for faulty goods. The only redress
available to consumers will be a replacement or for the item to be
repaired.
New EU rules may make it
impossible for shoppers to get a refund for faulty goods.
Hopefully this won't come into force. The Law Commission, which
advises the government on consumer rights, have called for our
refund rights to be protected. They say that 94% of consumers value
this right "very highly" and that its abolishment will lead to
widespread confusion and a drop in consumer confidence.
If the controversial rules do come in then do not fear
as there may be another avenue through which you can get a refund.
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act you can get a refund
from your credit card provider if you bought faulty goods that cost
between £100 and £30,000. See our Section 75 refunds guide for more
info.
In the meantime I strongly advise you to brush up on your
consumer rights when it comes to faulty goods. Many people are
still unclear on what they're entitled to and shops get away with
fobbing customers off when they're legally eligible for
compensation. See our comprehensive guide on how to deal
with faulty goods for more information.
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