Shoppers face losing right to return items to sellers in EU

SHOPPERS may be unable to return items or pursue a seller for faulty goods if the UK crashes out of the European Union without a deal in March.

Guidance issued by the Government has revealed doubts over consumer rights if a product is bought from a seller based in the EU after Brexit.

If the UK leaves the EU with the Withdrawal Agreement, consumers will be protected during the so-called “implementation period” until December 2020, a Government notice said.

It would mean consumers could still take an EU company to court in the UK up until that date and make returns under their existing rights. However, in the absence of a deal, rulings by UK courts may not be upheld in the EU.

The Government said: “If you have a dispute with a business based in the EU, after exit day on March 29 2019, it is less likely that you will be able to use the UK courts to try to put things right. If a UK court does make a judgment, the enforcement of that judgment will be more difficult. In that case, you may need to go through the courts of the country concerned.”

It comes as a slew of government notices revealed that Britons travelling in Europe or buying from EU firms might

‘If you have a dispute with a business based in the EU … it is less likely that you will be able to use the UK courts’

have less recourse in a no-deal Brexit.

Last week, Jeremy Wright, the Culture Secretary, said the Government would be unable to stop phone firms reintroducing data roaming fees, while buyers of package holidays may lose protections that could help them get a refund if an Eu-based firm goes bust.