Shops, suppliers and commercial organisations in general cannot always be relied on to act in a lawful or honourable way, so arm yourself with the basics of consumer law to challenge unscrupulous or misinformed traders. The Consumer Buyer Guides section contains more information on specific scenarios. Don’t forget to share your experiences or queries via the forum, or simply post a reply to any of the articles on the site.
Is it a legally binding contract?
Despite the word ‘contract’, and contrary to popular belief, a signed written contract is not required in order for these obligations to exist in law. This section presents the basic principles of contract law.
Sale of Goods Act
The Sale of Goods Act 1979 is perhaps the most useful and relevant to the problems many consumers face when they make purchases on the High Street, online or by mail order
Supply of Services
If you are having some building work done, or the installation of new windows, you would be party to a contract for Work and Materials. But what do you do if the job turns out to be a disaster?
Your rights when buying mail order, on the Internet or over the phone.
What we are talking about here are the Distance Selling Regulations and it’s important to be clear on what they cover and whether you can benefit from the protection they offer UK consumers.
Doorstep selling and your rights
Most householders have experienced an awkward situation with a persistent doorstep salesman. For this reason, the Consumer Protection (Doorstep Selling) Regulations are here to help.
The Data Protection Act
People often talk about the Data Protection Act, but in reality few people know very much about it. You should - it’s a very powerful piece of legislation and one which can provide compensation.
Unsafe products, damages and compensation
To make a successful claim for damages or compensation as a result of using an unsafe item, there are a number of things you must first prove. Find out what they are in this section.
Travel and Holidays
Your holiday was a nightmare and you had a miserable time. Is there anything you can do? Know your Consumer Rights under the Package Holiday Regulations and also statutory entitlements in the event of flight delays
