Get legal help from our consumer protection experts

While numerous acts of parliament have allowed for robust consumer protection in the UK for decades, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 means it’s simpler than ever before to resolve issues with retailers and service providers. 

It equips you with statutory rights stating any item you buy must be fit for purpose, of satisfactory quality and match the description given when it was sold.

What is consumer protection?

Consumer protection is a group of laws which protect individual customers against unfair selling practices for goods, digital content and services. 

Every time you buy something, you make a contract with the seller. When you do this you are entitled to products or services of:

• Satisfactory quality and as described
• Fit for purpose
• And will last a reasonable length of time.

These laws ensure that as a consumer, you have legal rights when:

• Products are faulty
• Digital content is faulty - this includes online film, games, music and ebooks
• Services are not of sufficient skill or quality

Consumer protection and the law

There is a lot of legislation around consumer rights and protection.  If you've made a purchase that has not lived up to expectations, the first thing to do is complain through the seller's complaint procedure - if they have one.

If they refuse to resolve the issue in a satisfactory manner, you have a number of options:

• Small claims court
  If your claim is for less than £10,000 (in England), you can go through the small claims court
  However there are fees to pay - so make sure it's worth the time and expense.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  Ways of resolving disputes between traders and consumers without the need to go to court. 
  
  Common forms of ADR include:
  Mediation – an independent third party who seeks to help reach an acceptable compromise between the disputing parties.
  Arbitration – an independent third party considers the facts before making a decision to which both parties are bound by law.

I want help and advice with consumer protection – what should I do?

If someone breaches your consumer rights, then you may have a legitimate claim against the seller, supplier or manufacturer.

Here at First4Lawyers, the consumer rights solicitors we can provide you with are specialists with extensive experience in resolving disputes between consumers and retailers, or service providers.

We can help you find the quickest and most cost effective solution to your problem.