Returning Faulty Goods
By Clare Briggs
As a customer, you expect any item you buy to be free of defects; however, when a product does not meet this expectation, you are well within your rights to seek a solution from the store where you bought the item in question under the Sale of Goods Act.
Retailer’’s Responsibilities
If you have a problem with an item no later than six months after purchasing, and it was not caused by any mishandling on your part, contacting the store where it came from should be your first step.
The retailer should first offer repair the item for free and in a reasonable amount of time. If this is not possible, they should give you an exact or similar item, not one of sub par quality. You can expect that a store will usually issue a refund or exchange immediately, unless the item can be fixed easily. But if the solution is not satisfactory, you do not have to accept the item.
Remember, you must allow the store time to give you a refund, and that refund will be based upon any wear, tear, and use by you. If the store owner cannot replace or repair your product, you can ask for a price reduction. Feel free to return it again if you experience further problems.
Proving Your Purchase
A receipt is not the only acceptable proof of purchase for a recently bought item, despite what a store clerk might say; you can use your bank statement or credit card bill. However, this will only work if the listing on your statement is for the same amount as the product.
When Customers Have No Recourse
1. The defect was disclosed at the time of purchase
2. Private purchases not made from a store or company
3. If the seller allowed you to inspect the product and you missed an obvious flaw
4. When you rethink your purchasing decision due to physical characteristics like size or colour
5. There is a mark on the product that can be completely cleaned with ease at home
Used Goods
You do not have to deal with any damages in a used product, unless you were told prior to purchase. If this is the case, you cannot return it because of the specified damage. But you can take it back if you discover a different problem.
About The Author
Clare is a member of a UK consumer forum where you can get advice about dealing with faulty goods amongst other things.
