Shopping in the sales? Know the law

WITH Black Friday and seeming yearround discount offers, the January sales tradition isn’t what it used to be.

However, there are still plenty of sales to be found.

If you are tempted by a bargain here is our guide to your rights.

Most importantly, whether you buy in a sale or not you have the same protection under the law as at any other time. This also goes for online sales.

The law doesn’t actually require shops to have a returns policy, but if it does then it must display it and stick to it.

Under the Consumer Rights Act you have the right to your money back if you have been sold faulty goods. You must return the goods within 30 days – the same as at any other time of year.

If an item is sold as a “second” it must be clearly labelled as such.

Be aware that many shops put out old stock in January. If you got a gift token for Christmas, being patient may well be a good idea. Wait until the new season stuff is on the shelves.

For the above reason, if you return a Christmas present it might benefit you to take a credit note rather than choose something immediately.

If you don’t have a receipt or change your mind about an item, the shop isn’t obliged to give you your money back. But it’s worth asking and it always pays to be polite.

If returning a gift, fold it neatly and make sure it doesn’t smell of tobacco smoke or cooking odours.

Disputes will arise at some point. When a deadlock is reached, write the shop a “final letter before action” in which you set out your claim. You can state you will start proceedings against the retailer in the small claims court. You don’t actually have to go all the way to court once you have said this, of course.

If you think a retailer has attempted to limit or failed to live up to your statutory rights (for example by claiming it doesn’t give refunds on sale items), then you can complain to the trading standards department closest to the retailer.