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Many Happy Returns

Make sure you know your rights if you're returning any unwanted Christmas presents!

Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 12 December 2012 21:07

If you were given a dodgy Christmas jumper from your mum, or your partner bought you something last minute after hitting the shops on Christmas Eve, the chances are you’ll want to take your prezzies back to the shop.

And you won't be alone. Thousands of people will be queuing up at customer service desks in shops across the West of Scotland after Christmas, to request an exchange or refund.

So to help make sure you know your rights The East Renfrewshire trading standards team has lots of valuable advice for consumers.

Paul Holland, senior trading standards officer said: “We want to stress the most common misconception when returning unwanted gifts by consumers is that they are automatically entitled to get their money back. This is not the case.

“If you have received a gift you simply don't like, or it is the wrong size or shape, the retailer does not have to offer you a refund, an exchange or even a credit note.

“Many stores will do this as a gesture of goodwill, but you should not expect it, especially as many smaller shops cannot afford to do this and despite common practices in most high street stores, only the person who purchased the gift has the right to return it.

“Although many stores will overlook this, a store owner does have the right to refuse to deal with you if you did not purchase the item yourself.”

However, you do have full rights to a refund or exchange if the item you purchased is faulty.

If the item does not work or it does not do ‘exactly what it says on the tin’, then by law you are entitled to a refund, replacement or repair. It is your choice as to which of these you accept.

According to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, when buying goods, consumers are legally entitled for them to be of a ‘satisfactory quality’, free from defects and as they were described.

As long as you return the item within a reasonable time and with a proof of purchase, you are entitled to your money back.

Paul added: “Check the returns policy before you buy and beware of gift receipts. The receiver can generally only get a credit note with a gift receipt and, if you don’t return the item quickly the store may only give you a credit for the sale price!

“The extra protection you get from buying goods and services over £100 on your credit card gives great added security when things go wrong.

“Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, credit card companies are jointly liable with the retailer if something you buy is faulty, not as described or fails to be delivered.”


Top tips to shop safely over the festive season

• Keep your receipt.
• Always buy from reputable traders and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• The quality of the packaging is also worth examining, as the packing for counterfeit goods is often produced to a far inferior standard and this can be another indication that the goods within are counterfeit
• This year’s favourite counterfeits look set to be tablet style computers and high end mobile phones. Only buy items from established sources or you will almost certainly end up with a worthless and dangerous fake.

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