We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Consumer rights? Don't make me laugh...
Options
pixwix
Posts: 122 Forumite
Martin... I love your website, love your TV programmes, love these forums. In fact look forward to all of them. But I was tempted to laugh when I downloaded and printed the "Free Wallet-Sized Consumer Rights Mini-Guide". I'm looking forward to showing this to shops when I have an argument, but I just wish it was all as clear-cut as it's supposed to be. Point in question...
I'm retired and disabled and live in a rural area. I've learned the hard way to go nowhere without my mobile, but I needed a new one. No problem - nice new Sony-Ericsohn payg (Orange) mobile phone at a good price from Tescos. Goes haywire after 4 weeks, but I don't return it until 2 weeks after that (Tescos is 40 miles away, and I can't afford to travel there every day).
Never before had a problem with returns to Tescos, but this time it's the star-chamber treatment. Didn't I read the fine-print? I wasn't aware the Sale of Goods Act had any fine print. Sorry sir, but our 28-day rule(???) says you have to return the item for repair if it isn't returned in the first month. We'll have them send you a postage-paid packabag for the return. What about the Sale of Good Acts - the phone broke down within weeks of purchase. Sorry sir - if you didn't return it within 28 days, that's the best we can do.
When I got home I contacted the local Trading Standards Dept. - "Grey area sir - not sure we can help!" Outstanding...
Citizens' Advice Bureau - only open one or two days a week - gave up after a few days.
So when the envelope arrived, I sent off my phone - didn't feel as though I had much option as I need a working phone badly. They promise to have it back to me in 10 days - somehow I'm not holding my breath. The envelope by the way - when it arrived - proved to be from Tescos itself and not from Sony-Ericsohn.
Sorry Martin - but all the consumer legislation in the world is not a ha'porth of use when the powers that be can't be arsed to enforce it - especially when shops know that, and the consumer has neither the means nor the stamina to follow through.
Thanks for the leaflet though - I'll be very happy to try it next time.
I'm retired and disabled and live in a rural area. I've learned the hard way to go nowhere without my mobile, but I needed a new one. No problem - nice new Sony-Ericsohn payg (Orange) mobile phone at a good price from Tescos. Goes haywire after 4 weeks, but I don't return it until 2 weeks after that (Tescos is 40 miles away, and I can't afford to travel there every day).
Never before had a problem with returns to Tescos, but this time it's the star-chamber treatment. Didn't I read the fine-print? I wasn't aware the Sale of Goods Act had any fine print. Sorry sir, but our 28-day rule(???) says you have to return the item for repair if it isn't returned in the first month. We'll have them send you a postage-paid packabag for the return. What about the Sale of Good Acts - the phone broke down within weeks of purchase. Sorry sir - if you didn't return it within 28 days, that's the best we can do.
When I got home I contacted the local Trading Standards Dept. - "Grey area sir - not sure we can help!" Outstanding...
Citizens' Advice Bureau - only open one or two days a week - gave up after a few days.
So when the envelope arrived, I sent off my phone - didn't feel as though I had much option as I need a working phone badly. They promise to have it back to me in 10 days - somehow I'm not holding my breath. The envelope by the way - when it arrived - proved to be from Tescos itself and not from Sony-Ericsohn.
Sorry Martin - but all the consumer legislation in the world is not a ha'porth of use when the powers that be can't be arsed to enforce it - especially when shops know that, and the consumer has neither the means nor the stamina to follow through.
Thanks for the leaflet though - I'll be very happy to try it next time.
0
Comments
-
After a reasonable time the retailer has the right to elect whether to refund, repair or replace. They are not in breach of your consumer rights.Gone ... or have I?0
-
Heres a tip.
Read things in their entirety. Don't just pick out the bit you want to hear.0 -
The retailers always got the right to have the item tested even with the magic within a reasonable period time. This is to protect them from people who damage goods and ask for a refund/replacement/repair at there expense (not saying this is the case with you OP). If you can prove that the time spent waiting for repair will significantly inconvenience you then you can have a replacement after the item has been tested, but I suspect that you may have to make a visit to court to prove it.0
-
i would fully expect an electrical item from tescos to go haywire after 4 weeks, i think its in the small print somewhere....Target Savings by end 2009: 20,000
current savings: 20,500 (target hit yippee!)
Debts: 8000 (student loan so doesnt count)
new target savings by Feb 2010: 30,0000 -
Have you read the guide the op refers to?Anihilator wrote: »Heres a tip.
Read things in their entirety. Don't just pick out the bit you want to hear.
Its extremely simple, and doesn't mention this bit,so i cant blame the op for that.Back by no demand whatsoever.0 -
Not really a sensible generalisation there.i would fully expect an electrical item from tescos to go haywire after 4 weeks, i think its in the small print somewhere....
Tesco buy electrical products from 100's of suppliers, all working differently. Unless Tesco do something to the product in the time it takes to come from the supplier to the shelf, you would have had exactly the same possibility of problems / faults as you would have had with any other retailer selling the product.The quickest way to become a millionaire is start off as a billionaire and go into the airline business.
Richard Branson0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards