Consumer rights

This article is 6 years old. Click here to view the latest articles for this topic.

Your rights

You have the right to expect certain standards in the goods you buy. The law says that goods must be:

Of satisfactory quality - This covers, for example, the appearance and finish of goods, their safety and durability. Goods must be free from defects, usually even minor ones, except when they have been brought to your attention by the seller. For example, if the goods are said to be shop soiled or you examined the goods and should have noticed the defects;
Fit for their purposes, including any particular purpose mentioned by you to the seller - If you tell the seller that you want boots fit for mountain climbing, that is what you should get;
As described - On the package or display sign, or by the seller. If you are told that a jumper is 100% wool it should not turn out to have acrylic in it.

These are your statutory rights. All goods bought or hired from a trader - from a shop, street market, catalogu