ALLIANZ LEGAL PROTECTION WARNS ONLINE SHOPPERS TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS THIS CHRISTMAS

Allianz Legal Protection (ALP) is urging consumers to make sure they are aware of their legal rights when buying Christmas presents online.  

Richard Simpkins, from *Allianz Legal Protection who provide legal advice on a variety of issues to consumers and commercial organisations as part of their insurance cover said: 

“When making Christmas purchases online it is important that people make their purchases early to avoid disappointment. By law, unless otherwise agreed, online retailers have 30 days to deliver your goods, so if you need the presents to arrive before Christmas, make sure this is guaranteed by the retailer.

“If your order arrives and you are not happy with the purchase, in most cases you have up to seven days to return the goods, so make sure you check them as soon as they arrive. If you decide to cancel, online retailers are obliged to refund the full cost plus the original delivery charge although some online retailers may charge you for the cost of the return.”

Allianz Legal Protection advises consumers to do the following when shopping online this Christmas:

·  Shop around for deals by using price comparison sites and multiple search engines – there are now a number of discount codes and vouchers available online

·  Read the terms and conditions and make sure you understand the payment and delivery details

·  Keep a record of all your online transactions including all receipts, order confirmations, correspondence and reference numbers

·  Look for a padlock symbol or 'https' in the website address whenever you are inputting your personal or payment details as this shows that the site is secure

·  Look for a VeriSign Trust Seal or ISIS (Internet Shopping is Safe) symbol as these are indicators of a secure site

·  If the item you are purchasing costs more than £100 consider using a credit card as this will give you additional protection if things go wrong.

When purchasing goods in store, Richard suggests that consumers do the following things:  

·  Ask the shop assistant about the retailer’s goods returned policy

·  The closer it gets to Christmas some retailers have extended refund policies in place, to take advantage of this, some retailers will ask that you obtain a gift receipt when making your purchase

·  If a purchase is made by a credit or debit card, most retailers will usually only refund to the original card. If you would like the recipient of the gift to be able to obtain a refund if needed, it is best to make the purchase by cash although it is always advisable to use a credit card for purchases over £100.

Richard adds: “There is no legal right to a refund unless the goods are faulty or mis-described. Therefore, if there is a chance that the recipient may wish to return or exchange your present, it is vital that you make sure you buy it from a shop that permits refunds for non-faulty items.”

ENDS