New protection measures have come in to force under the Consumer Rights Act, which will allow consumers to gain a full refund for faulty goods for up to 30 days after purchase.
The new law also covers digital goods, such as online films, music, ebooks and will provide stronger rights for people buying services such as haircuts. Under the new Act, providers who do not carry out the work with reasonable care, as agreed with the consumer, will be obliged to put things right.Previously consumers were only entitled to refunds for a “reasonable time” and although in many cases retailers offer refunds for goods even when they are not faulty, there is no statutory right to a refund.Gillian Guy, the chief executive of Citizens Advice, said “The new laws coming in today should make it easier for people to understand and use their rights, regardless of what goods or services they buy.”Following the change in the law, consumers will now be able to take any disagreements against retailers to certified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers, which will be a cheaper and faster route than going through the courts. One of these providers is the Consumer Ombudsman, which will be free to use for consumers. However, not all retailers are signed up with the ADR providers.Many of the consumer rights groups have welcomed the changes. Further details on the new Consumer Rights Act can be found here on the Citizens Advice site.The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.Setfords Solicitors are a national full service law firm, with litigation Solicitors in Guildford and across the country.