Know your rights This week: Halloween goods

Every year I seem to hear the same three Halloween complaints, so this year I wanted to highlight them and offer my advice:

1. I BOUGHT A SUBSTANDARD HALLOWEEN COSTUME

The Consumer Rights Act says that goods must be i) of satisfactory quality ii) fit for purpose and iii) as described. So a Halloween costume i) must be of a sufficiently reasonable quality (the greater the price, the greater the quality should be) ii) must carry a CE mark to says it has passed safety checks and iii) must have a genuine and accurate CE mark and general description. If it fails to meet these standards you will be entitled to your money back.

2. MY PUMPKIN WENT MOULDY TOO SOON

The most common scenario is that a pumpkin is cut open and carved days before Halloween and then goes mouldy. In these circumstances you have no right to a refund. But if it goes mouldy before you carve into it, you will be entitled to your money back or a replacement.

3. MY ORDER CAME LATE SO WAS USELESS

When a retailer sells Halloween goods it is obvious that you will need them delivered before October 31 and this therefore becomes a term of the contract between you. So, if delivery is not made before this date you will be entitled to a refund. You can also ask for a refund under the Consumer Contract Regulations at any time up to 14 days after delivery – so either way you

can get your money back.