If your online shopping experience involves missing parcels or faulty goods, it’s crucial to understand your rights as a consumer. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 empowers you to effectively address these issues and navigate them successfully.
When parcels fail to arrive, the responsibility lies with the retailer, not the courier firm, to ensure safe delivery. In case of missing returns, retailers should handle the matter promptly.
If a refund request is denied, consider initiating a chargeback with your bank under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, citing “breach of contract” in your dispute.
Retailers may claim items were “sold as seen,” but this does not absolve them of their liability under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. You have a short-term right to reject faulty goods within 30 days, and the burden of proof lies with you during this initial period.
Beyond 30 days, the onus shifts to the retailer to demonstrate that the goods were not faulty at the time of purchase. This concept is known as the reverse burden of proof.
Despite retailers often redirecting customers to manufacturers for faulty items, the responsibility to resolve the issue rests with the retailer under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
When dealing with large purchases such as cars, do not hesitate to reject faulty vehicles within the first six months, as any faults are presumed to have existed at the time of purchase. Retailers have an obligation to provide repairs free of charge and without causing undue inconvenience to the consumer.
Extended warranties sold by sales staff are generally unnecessary and provide no additional protection beyond the statutory rights granted by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Remember, you are entitled to a refund by the same payment method and do not have to accept vouchers as compensation.
If you encounter challenges with online shopping or faulty goods, don’t hesitate to reach out to relevant organizations or seek legal advice to protect your consumer rights.
