Consumer laws

Consumer laws is a term used to describe the complex set of government Acts and past court cases which define the statutory rights of consumers. In most retail relationships the consumer is provided with the store’s terms and conditions when a purchase is made (e.g. a store’s returns policy). The specifics of these terms are not prescribed by law and may change from business to business. However these terms do not interfere with the basic consumer laws which apply to all consumer relationships and cannot be avoided.

The most significant right offered by consumer laws is governed by the Sale of Goods Act. The Act specifies that any product sold must be fit for purpose. This means that a product must conform to its description and be of a certain quality. The exact product life expectancy, for example, depends on the product itself, and in general for more expensive products longer time frames are envisaged. If a product fails within four to five weeks of purchase the consumer has the right to demand a refund. After this initial period the consumer has the right to have the product fixed or replaced.

If you are involved in a trade in which consumer laws might be relevant to, you should probably discuss the legal status of your agreements with a solicitor. There are several considerations regarding consumer laws that could substantially influence the manner in which your business operates. If you are operating in the service industry for example, the Supply of Goods and Services Act operates in a similar manner to the Sale of Goods Act discussed above.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on consumer laws, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local commercial / consumer solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local commercial / consumer solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.