Experts have hailed the act, which drastically modernises retail rules designed for the Seventies and Eighties, as “the biggest reform to shoppers’ rights in a generation”.
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Everything you need to know about the new Consumer Rights Act – what it covers, what’s excluded and your new rights.
The 30-day rule does not apply to digital purchases, but retailers have one opportunity to fix (for example, through a software patch) or replace any goods, and the consumer can choose which option they prefer. However, the new legislation stipulates that dealers will have only one chance at fix or replacement.
Those who have paid for their online content could now recoup hundreds of pounds in compensation from providers, thanks to new consumer powers introduced on today as part of the revised Consumer Rights Act. Now, if you buy a product – whether physical or digital – and discover a fault within 30 days you’ll be entitled to a full refund.
For the first time it protects British shoppers buying anything supplied in digital form – including content sold through major websites such as Netflix (Xetra: 552484 – news), iTunes and Spotify.
The Act has been welcomed by many consumer rights groups and further information can be found here.
Welcoming the new legislation Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: ‘It’s timely that consumer law is being brought up to date to cope with the requirements and demands of today’s shoppers.
Getting a refund or fix, dealing with issues with faulty digital downloads and challenging unfair terms should all be made much simpler.
In addition, the Act provides that terms which relate to the main subject matter of the contract or its price must be prominent and in plain and intelligible language to be enforceable.
Another change is that companies will no longer be allowed to “bury” charges in the small print of terms and conditions.
‘Businesses now need to ensure their staff are aware of the changes so they’re not short-changing customers or breaking the law’.
“Businesses have a real opportunity to show they value their customers by upholding their new rights and signing up to an alternative dispute resolution scheme”.
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When it comes to contracts, numerous rules are around making them easier to understand, not filling them with jargon and (here’s the best bit) not hiding away fees or prices – something even the most meticulous of us would probably welcome.
