Slough Borough Council: Consumer advice

Consumer advice

The information on this page has useful advice sheets to help you to resolve your consumer issues. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact Consumer Direct on 0808 156 2252, who will be able to provide you with further advice.

Problems with goods

You may be entitled to redress if the goods you have purchased are:

Not of satisfactory quality or;
Not as described or;
Not fit for their purpose.

Keep in mind, the age of the product and reasonable wear and tear.

When do you not have any rights?

If you had the opportunity to examine the goods and you failed to notice the fault

If you were told about the fault
If you simply changed your mind
If you damage the product yourself

Stores often have a returns policy. If the goods are not faulty and you have changed your mind, the store may allow you to exchange the item or give a refund. Always check the policy of each shop as it varies.

Buying in a sale does not affect your statutory rights.

You have fewer rights when you buy from a private seller e.g. a car bought privately. You will not be able to take action if something goes wrong unless the seller described the condition and value of the car.

Problems with services

You may be entitled to redress if the services you have contracted for is not carried out with:

Reasonable care and skill or;
Within a reasonable time or;
For a reasonable charge if one has not been quoted.

Keep in mind using a tradesperson who has the relevent qualifications for the service which is being contracted for. Please see the Trading Standards approved Buy with Confidence website for approved traders in your area.

If you are in a dispute

If the business is unwilling to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, your first step should always be to formalise your complaint by putting it into writing, giving them a resonable time to respond. If you don't received a satisfactory response, you may want to esculate your complaint to the managing director or proprietor of the business. If the matter is still unresolved you may wish to enforce your rights through the court.