Q & A Your legal questions answered.

Q WILL Brexit affect consumer rights law? Doesn’t a lot of it come from Europe? Sid Deacon A THE main legislation, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, will not be affected. But we have many rights, such as those that give you compensation for delayed flights (EC261) which come out of Europe. In the coming years our Government will be deciding which ones to keep. Q I PURCHASED a gift card from American Apparel and I’ve now heard they have gone bust. Can I still use the voucher? Yohan Eastwood A THEY are in administration, which means the business is operating in a limited capacity. The company’s administrators, KPMG, have said they are not accepting payment by gift card “at the moment” while they review the situation. Ask them if you will be given a refund. Unlikely, I’d say. Q IF I buy something faulty when does the 30-day rule start to run under the Consumer Rights Act? Ruth Harrington A THE moment you receive the goods. If you purchase in-store it’s

on that day and if you purchase online its when the goods arrive. Q I’M ordering a new TV online as a Christmas present. The website says it will be delivered within four weeks. Will they have an obligation to deliver

before Christmas? Jeannette Acker A NOT unless you make it clear you want the goods before Christmas. If you state this – really spell it out – and they agree, that is part of the contract between you, which means they will have to honour it. Q HOW long do you get to return unwanted Christmas presents? Jez Longhurst A TYPICALLY 30 days but you should check the returns policy of each retailer and also check what their rules are for returning goods.