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We put together a handy guide to the Consumers Rights Act 2015 for Choice Magazine. A great resource for businesses and customers to understand their rights when it comes to refunds and exchanges.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 became law on 1st October 2015. This statute was specifically introduced to simplify, strengthen and modernise the law, giving you clearer shopping rights. It replaces three previous statutes and includes rights in relation to items bought online and digital downloads.
Quality
Under the Consumer Rights Act all products must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. These rules also include digital content in this definition. So, all products – whether physical or digital – must meet the following standards:
• As described. The goods supplied must match any description given to you, or any models or samples shown to you at the time of purchase.
• Fit for purpose. The goods should be fit for the purpose they are supplied for, as well as any specific purpose you made known to the retailer before you agreed to buy the goods.
• Satisfactory quality. Goods shouldn't be faulty or damaged when you receive them. You should ask what a reasonable person would consider satisfactory for the goods in question. For example, bargain-bucket products won’t be held to as high standards as luxury goods.
If your product doesn’t satisfy any one of the three criteria outlined above, you have a claim under the Consumer Rights Act against the retailer (seller) as opposed to the manufacturer.
What you can claim, depends on how much time has passed since you physically took ownership of the goods. You will need proof of purchase such as the receipt.
