Home > NEWS > Twelve top shopping tips for Christmas

With the Christmas shopping season well under way, Consumer Direct has put together 12 top shopping tips for Christmas to help you avoid problems and get the best deal.

The tips include making sure you keep receipts, checking gifts work before you wrap them and finding out if the store has a �??goodwill policy�?�.

Your legal rights are set out in the Sale of Goods Act, which means goods must be �??of satisfactory quality�?� and �??fit for purpose�?�. These apply even if you have bought goods in a sale or second-hand. However, if you buy privately you have fewer rights and goods only have to be �??as described�?�.

You have additional rights if you are buying from a catalogue, over the Internet or any other form of �??distance selling�?�. And you are protected still further if you buy items costing over £100 on a credit card, as the credit provider shares liability with the supplier.

Consumer Direct also warns against offers that seem too good to be true �?? they usually are.

If you do have a complaint, you should go back to the seller with proof of purchase, keep calm and be sure of your facts. If your complaint doesn�??t succeed, you can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

For full details of the twelve tips, see the Consumer Direct website.