Test Your Consumer Rights Knowledge Quiz

[Amethyst]

Knowing your consumer rights can save you both time and money. Making sure you know where you stand when shopping – whether it’s online, on the high street or in your home – can be vital when times are tough.

In a survey* for the ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign, which launched this week, more than a quarter (28 %) are more likely to complain about goods they bought during the economic downturn. Out of the 2000 people questioned, one-third felt that their consumer rights have been ignored.

Not knowing exactly what your rights are can leave you vulnerable to parting with your hard-earned cash unnecessarily. Common misconceptions include believing that shops are obliged to refund or exchange items you don't want, when in fact you rights at all if you simply change your mind and not knowing there is a seven-day cooling off period for all goods bought online or in your home.

Put your consumer rights knowledge to the test with our quiz.

Consumer rights quiz

1.You bought a new top from a high street shop last week but you have since changed your mind and want to take it back. What are your rights?

a.You can insist on a refund
b.You can insist you get an exchange
c.You can insist on a credit note
d.You do not have any rights



2.You purchased a TV yesterday, but when you installed it at home, it doesn’t work. You return it with a receipt to the shop. The staff agree that it's faulty but say you have to accept a repair. What are your rights?

a.You can reject the goods and ask for a full refund
b.You are only entitled to a repair
c.You will have to pay for a repair.


3.You purchased a TV from a high street shop five months ago and it has now stopped working. You have returned it with a receipt to the shop and they agree it's faulty but only offer you a repair. What are your rights?

a.You can reject the goods and obtain a full refund
b.A repair would be a reasonable offer
c.You should be entitled to a brand new telly


4.Any white goods you buy must:

a.be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described
b.last for 6 years
c.come with a manufacturer's warranty

5.You agreed for a double glazing salesman to visit your home yesterday and you signed a contract. On reflection you realise that you might have been a bit hasty and you've committed yourself to something you can't afford. Where do you stand?

a.You have signed a contract and there's no way out
b.You have a seven day cooling off period to cancel
c.You can cancel but you will incur cancellation costs



6.You go to a shop and select a pair of shoes priced at £20. When you get to the till the sales assistant says they're wrongly priced and should be £30. He refuses to sell them at the cheaper price. What are your rights?

a.You can insist on purchasing them at £20
b.You don’t have any right to purchase at the lower price but could tell Trading Standards who investigate pricing errors
c.You are entitled to the goods free of charge because of the mistake


7. You buy a car from a private seller after seeing an ad in the local paper. Are your consumer rights the same as if you bought from a car dealer?

a.Yes
b.No




8.You buy a pair of shoes online. They arrive and you realise they're not quite the colour that you wanted. Can you return them and ask for your money back?

a.No
b.Yes, you have 28 days to change your mind, return the goods and claim a full refund.
c.Yes, you have seven days to change your mind and return the goods for a refund but the retailer can make a reasonable charge to cover return shipping costs.

9.You bought a digital music player two months ago and now it doesn’t work. You return it to the retailer who says you must have misused it and that you need a report to prove that it's faulty before he has to do anything. Is this correct?

a.Yes, the onus is on the customer to prove that the goods are faulty if this is disputed.
b.No, for the first six months there is a presumption that the goods were inherently faulty when sold unless the retailer can prove otherwise.


10. If you have suffered a breach of contract after paying for something by credit card, you can make a claim against the credit card issuer as well as, or instead of, the supplier, but under what conditions?

a.The cash price for a single item purchased is between £100 and £30,000
b.The cash price for a single item purchased is between £1,000 and £300,000
c.The transaction takes place in the UK only



11. You bought a pair of shoes in the January sales at a vastly reduced price but the first time you wear them a heel falls off. What are your rights?

1. You don't have any rights on sale items
2. You have exactly the same rights on sale items as you do on full price goods.

12. You've had double glazing installed by a local trader. You didn't get a written quote before the job started and the final bill is three times more than you expected. You are happy with the work done but where do you stand?
a. You have no rights if the work has been done properly
b. you don't have to pay anything at all if you think that the trader is trying it on.
c. If you didn't agree a price in advance you may be able to argue that the price is unreasonable and negotiate a reduction.

[Amethyst]

Re: Test Your Consumer Rights Knowledge Quiz

Answers:

1: Answer d.

A lot of people assume that because many stores offer a no-quibble returns policy, all shops are obliged to refund or exchange items you don't want. This is in fact, not true - you have no rights at all if you simply change your mind.

If you're unsure about a product, ask about the returns policy and if you make an agreement with a retailer that you can return something if it's not quite right, try to get this in writing.

2: Answer a.

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, products must be fit for purpose, of satisfactory quality and as described. If any of these conditions are breached, and provided that you formally 'reject' the goods immediately, you should be entitled to a full refund of your money if that's what you want.

3: Answer: b

If you have retained a product for a reasonable period of time, you will be deemed to have 'accepted' it meaning that you will no longer have the automatic right to 'reject' it and claim a full refund.

In March 2003, new provisions were introduced into the Sale of Goods Act by the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 which give you alternative remedies including repair, replacement, reduction, and partial/full refund. These are not straightforward alternatives, some being available only if others are not.

A free repair will usually be the first remedy offered. If a repair is not possible or if it would cause significant inconvenience, then a replacement might be an option, (but this could be a like-for-like replacement, ie not necessarily brand new).

4: Answer: a

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended), any goods (not just white goods) you buy must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. They also have to be the seller's to sell.

If there is a breach of contract, you have up to 6 years to make a claim, but this doesn't necessarily mean that goods have to last for 6 years.

Many white goods will be sold with a free one year warranty but this isn't a legal obligation.

5: Answer: b

Generally speaking, if you sign a contract you are bound by the agreement. However, if you sign a contract in your home, new doorstep selling regulations in most cases give you seven days to cancel a contract by written notice and any sum paid should be refunded.

6: Answer b.

It's a common myth that goods with a wrong price tag must be sold at that price. In legal terms, prices displayed in a shop are not considered as legally binding offers but as 'invitations to treat'. However, you may want to report the matter to Trading Standards as the store may be breaching other pricing laws.

7: Answer: b

No. If you're buying from an individual rather than a trader, goods only have to be 'as described', and you lose your right for goods to be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. If you are buying privately, ensure that any verbal description important to you is confirmed in writing. This may help to strengthen your case in the event of a claim.

8: Answer: c

With a few exceptions for things like groceries or goods made to order, the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 give consumers who shop online, over the phone or via mail order seven working days after delivery to cancel the contract and claim a full refund (including original delivery costs). Businesses can make a reasonable charge for the cost of returning the goods, but this must be made clear in the terms and conditions. Any refund due must be paid within 30 days.


9: Answer: b

Under the alternative remedy provisions introduced in 2003, if a fault occurs in the first six months after purchase, the burden of proof is with the retailer so it's up to them to prove that the product was not inherently faulty at the time of sale. After six months, this burden of proof is reversed.

N.B. If you are looking to 'reject' a product straightaway and claim a full refund, the onus will be on you as a consumer to prove that the item is faulty.

10: Answer: a

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes creditors jointly and severally liable for any breach of contract or misrepresentation with the supplier in cases where there is a link between the supplier of the goods and/or services and the creditor. For example, if you paid for a kitchen table costing £1000 using your credit card and the supplier subsequently goes bust without delivering your table, you would be able to claim for your loss from the credit card company.

In October 2007, The House of Lords confirmed that section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 also applies to overseas as well as domestic transactions. This ruling brought to an end a legal process initiated by the OFT in 2004.
It's important to note that this protection does not cover transactions by debit card, some store cards or charge cards, so it's always worth considering using a credit card for larger purchases.

11. Answer: b
You have exactly the same rights when you buy sale items as you do for full price goods. The only exception would be where a fault has been pointed out to you at the time of sale.

12: Answer: c

Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, service providers must carry out any work with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time (unless fixed by a contract) and at a reasonable price (again unless fixed by a contract). In the case above, if you think that the trader is charging an unreasonable price you may be able to negotiate a reduction.
However, it's always vitally important that you get a written quote for all work before you start. This is legally binding and will help you avoid any nasty shocks.

It pays to know your rights. The ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign aims to educate shoppers about their three key rights – “goods must fit the description given, be of satisfactory quality and suitable for purpose”. For further information and clear, practical advice contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit the website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.

Anyone visiting the Consumer Direct web site can test their Consumer rights knowledge by taking part in an online quiz. Test your knowledge for the chance to win £150 worth of shopping vouchers.

*The survey was conducted by BMRB and questioned 2,009 people in England, Scotland and Wales. Further information is available at Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

[charitynjw]

Re: Test Your Consumer Rights Knowledge Quiz

:hug::sorry::grin:

Hi Amethyst,

Where's the quiz for retailers/assistants, entitled "I know Sweet Fanny Adams about consumer rights 'cos no-one has ever taught me/I can't be bothered to check/my company told me to say "vouchers only"/has to go back to manufacturers/Sale of Goods Act = isn't that Shakespeare?"

(Got to be on my best behaviour ,cos Tools might be reading this.............Oh, Hi Tools...........no, don't hit me again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ooooowwwwww!................. ......muuuuuuuuuuummmmmmm!!!!)

[MIKE770]

Re: Test Your Consumer Rights Knowledge Quiz

:hug::sorry::grin:

Hi Amethyst,

Where's the quiz for retailers/assistants, entitled "I know Sweet Fanny Adams about consumer rights 'cos no-one has ever taught me/I can't be bothered to check/my company told me to say "vouchers only"/has to go back to manufacturers/Sale of Goods Act = isn't that Shakespeare?"

(Got to be on my best behaviour ,cos Tools might be reading this.............Oh, Hi Tools...........no, don't hit me again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ooooowwwwww!................. ......muuuuuuuuuuummmmmmm!!!!)

Such Pleasure some people have or is it???????????????