IT’S A GIFT... BUT YOU STILL HAVE RIGHTS
LESS than a month to go. Yikes. Ok, let’s take a deep breath and do this…
It’s almost December, a crazy month of Christmas dos, school plays, decorating, entertaining – and getting the shopping done.
As there are loads of guides on how to survive Christmas and the New Year out there, I’m going to focus on a few useful tips for everyone who’s feeling a little overwhelmed as the countdown to Christmas begins. So, no matter whether you’re facing down the high street or staring blankly at the laptop, waiting for inspiration, I’ll help you know your rights should things go wrong.
YOUR RIGHT TO RETURN STUFF:
THE good news is we’ve got lots of rights when it comes to goods or services that don’t work. However, there are certain time limits you need to bear in mind. This is particularly important if you’re shopping well in advance of Christmas day itself as this could affect whether the person you’re buying for is able to return the item.
The rules (in this case, the Consumer Rights Act 2015) say that you have 30 days from the date the goods were bought to return the item if it’s wonky or not as described. This matters because if you’ve paid for an item to be delivered by Santa Claus direct, or pre-wrapped, so you won’t necessarily know if something is awry.
If you buy gifts now, that takes you perilously close to the 30-day limit for returning items. Don’t worry – you can still return goods up to six months after the purchase, though afterwards your options often switch to repair or replacement. We’ve got loads of details about this on the Resolver website.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR PACKAGE DOESN’T ARRIVE ON TIME?
WITH online sales and spontaneous shopping on your phone, it’s easy to get carried away and click on the order button without checking key details. Here are a few things to watch for so you can dodge a delivery disaster at Christmas:
Are the goods coming from the UK or from abroad? Loads of people get caught out on this one. Also, a bargain online might become less of a bargain when shipping costs are factored in.
WHAT’S THE DELIVERY DATE?
MOST online firms will give you a delivery ‘estimate’. This doesn’t guarantee delivery but if it’s well in advance of Christmas, they are giving your ‘reasonable expectations’ you’ll have the item on time. The firm you buy from is responsible for the delivery company so go to the retailer even if their contractor is in error.
CHECK THE ADDRESS
MANY a gift has vanished in to the netherworld of postal sorting departments because of old addresses stored with online retailers. Check your details first!
Allow at least two weeks before Christmas for your items to arrive. If they’re not on time, you’ve got time to make a complaint. The firm can deliver you a replacement for a broken or missing item while they sort out the complaint, so be pushy.
We’d love to hear your shopping stories and delivery disasters. Get in touch press@ resolver.co.uk. Find out more about your rights and make a complaint at resolver.co.uk