Q&A Your legal questions answered.

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He said there had been a “surge” in the local electricity supply and that he needed to carry out a twominute check within every house in the street.

George thought it was genuine – in fact, he told me that he didn’t give it a second thought – and let the man into his home.

He plugged something into a socket in the living room, informed George that everything looked OK and then left.

But days later, on Thursday, May 7, another man wearing a suit knocked on the door.

He was carrying identification that George thinks said National Power and told him that the man who entered his home on May 1 had since tested positive for Covid-19 and was very ill.

He went on to explain that as a precaution they were disinfecting

QI MADE a section 75 claim to my card provider about a faulty dishwasher I purchased. The card provider has rejected my complaint as I haven’t complained to the retailer first. Otto Lawrence

TECHNICALLY this is wrong. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act does not contain a condition that you must pursue the trader first. However, many card providers will ask you to do this.

I PURCHASED three rugs online from a company in Singapore. Two have arrived but the third has not. What can I do? Nathan Harman

AS the trader is overseas, our consumer protection laws will not apply. If you paid with your credit card you could make a section 75 claim, if the purchase price was greater than £100.

AQ Aall houses the man had entered over the past ten days. He said it would be totally free and help protect George against the virus.

He also said the procedure needed to be carried out straight away and suggested he took a walk for an hour while it was done.

Two other men then arrived in a van and went into the house.

George went out for a walk, as suggested, and when he returned home around 45 minutes later, the men had left.

But he was shocked to discover

QI HAVE a holiday to Malta booked for October. I’m trying to get my money back due to Covid-19, but the company is refusing. What can I do? Jane Banks AT present, we do not know if flights and hotels will be operating in October. It’s therefore a bit premature to seek a refund.

Athey had stolen his television, DVD player, two sofas, jewellery and an envelope with £200 in cash.

George wrote to me about this because he wanted to warn others about the scam.

However, he is so embarrassed that he does not want to report it to the police or tell his relatives.

I’ve urged him to report it and I’m hoping he will. This is a good example of why we have to carry on looking out for our elderly and vulnerable loved ones, both during and after the lockdown.

QI BOOKED tickets to a concert that has now been cancelled. The organiser has offered a credit note or tickets for the revised date in April 2021. Am I entitled to my cash back instead? Lisa Grey

YES. As they have had to cancel the Consumer Rights Act says you are entitled to a cash refund.

I BOUGHT a used iphone from ebay. The description said used iphone 6 and no more. There is a big scratch on the back. The seller didn’t tell me this. Can I get my money back? Dave Wheeler

WHEN you buy goods from a private individual, your only rights under the Consumer Rights Act is for the goods to be “as described”. So, on the basis that the phone is a used iphone 6, it meets the description.

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