Consumer rights

Question 1

What does the Consumer Rights Act, October 2015, cover?

Answer 1

The Consumer Rights Act covers things that customers are entitled to in relation:
- to faulty products
- reasonable care and skill
- unfair contract terms
It also:
- gives consumers a clear right to the repair or replacement of faulty digital content, such as online film and games

Question 2

Faulty goods - example

Answer 2

• You buy a toaster but find a week later, when you try to use it for the first time, that it won’t turn on and the bread won’t stay down. The toaster is not of satisfactory quality.
• Under the Act, because you had had the faulty toaster for fewer than 30 days you are entitled to reject it for a full refund so you can return it to the shop. Because the fault is obvious there is no need for further testing and the trader must agree to provide a refund.

Question 3

Faulty digital content - example

Answer 3

• You pay to download a TV series which is described as containing all 13 episodes. When you download it you find that the final episode is missing.
• Under the Act, the digital content is not as described. You are entitled to a repair or replacement of the digital content, to bring it in line with the description. In this instance, an appropriate remedy may be a download of the final episode.

Question 4

Reasonable care and skill - example

Answer 4

• A trader is contracted by you to decorate a room for a party. You inspect the work the day before it is due to be finished and say that it is not in line with the colour scheme you agreed with the trader’s assistant. The trader phones the assistant, who agrees that you did specify the colour scheme.
• Under the Act, you can ask the trader to re-do the decorating. Due to the purpose of the service, the trader would need to re-do the work before the party to have done so within a “reasonable time”.