Consumer rights: where to find help

People are being urged to seek redress from retailers that sell faulty electrical goods this Christmas after a survey found two-thirds of consumers have bought problem goods in the last two years.

National Consumer Week encourages people to get #SwitchedOn to their consumer rights and shop with confidence.The Citizens Advice research, reveals 1 in 4 (28%) people were initially turned away by retailers when they tried to get a repair, replacement or refund, despite the retailer having a responsibility to offer a solution.

The survey also showed that persistence paid off, with 61% of those who were turned away eventually getting some form of solution from the retailer.It is hoped that focusing consumers’ minds during the busy Christmas period will help them to understand their rights which they can exercise all year round.

The campaign is run by Citizens Advice, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Local Trading Standards services up and down the country are also supporting the campaign by helping businesses to understand their responsibilities under the act.

Consumer advice is available from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or online on www.citizensadvice.org.uk Free and impartial business advice on a host of trading standards legislation is available on the government-sponsored website, www.businesscompanion.co.uk