News Categories

• Banking
• Breakdown Cover
• Car Insurance
• Credit Cards
• Home Insurance
• Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Loans
• Money
• Mortgages
• Pensions
• Pet Insurance
• Travel Insurance

News Archive

• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011
• May 2011
• April 2011
• March 2011

Newsletter

People 'need to return faulty goods'

By Sarah Engle, Wed 3 Mar 2010 - Published in Banking

Savers could be losing on almost £5,000 across their lifetimes by failing to return faulty goods to shops, the government has claimed.

A survey carried out by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as part of its Know Your Consumer Rights campaign found the average person loses £4,950 because they do not ask for a refund on defective items.

The poll showed that 48 per cent of people have at least one faulty product at home that they wished they had returned to the store, while 32 per cent have up to five broken goods.

In addition, it revealed that 36 per cent feel nervous when they attempt to return a defective item to a retailer, 21 per cent get embarrassed and 19 per cent feel intimidated.

Consumer minister Kevin Brennan said: "Now is the time to brush up on your consumer rights so you can return any faulty or unwanted goods with added confidence."

Last month, the government unveiled a new campaign to protect consumers from internet and email scams launched by fraudsters, criminals and rogue traders.