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Shopping tips on Christmas list in Wrexham

OFT roadshow targets Christmas shoppers

PN 158/03    3 December 2003

Hot shopping tips and advice are on the Christmas list for Wrexham shoppers with the OFT consumer awareness roadshow.

The OFT will be on hand in Queen's Square on Thursday 4 December to distribute 'Hot Shopping Tips', its handy pocket guide on shoppers' rights, and to give out helpful advice and top tips to Wrexham Christmas shoppers. The OFT will be joined by trading standards officers from Wrexham Council who can give one-to-one help and advice to shoppers on anything from rogue traders to internet shopping.

The 'Hot Shopping Tips' guide includes the following helpful tips and advice for Wrexham shoppers:

• a retailer cannot avoid giving a refund on faulty goods by blaming the manufacturer as the contract is with the seller
  
• a credit card provider is liable as well as the retailer if the item bought costs between £100 and £30,000 and is faulty, broken or doesn't arrive
  
• consumers who shop from home have additional rights, including a cooling off period (usually seven days) in which to change their minds any goods you purchase must be of 'satisfactory quality', 'as described' and 'fit for their purpose'.

The visit follows a regional radio advertising campaign and forms part of the OFT's regional roadshow programme which aims to raise awareness among local consumers of their rights on the high street.

The OFT is also holding a seminar for small and medium-sized businesses at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education on Plas Coch Campus in Wrexham to explain the OFT's role, help their understanding of competition and consumer protection laws and listen to any problems they might be experiencing.

Launching the roadshow, Penny Boys, OFT Executive Director, said:

 'With Christmas approaching we want Wrexham shoppers to have consumer rights on their shopping list. If you know your rights and shop around, you are more likely to get the best deal and get any problems dealt with effectively.'

The OFT consumer information stand will be located at a 'one-stop shop' in Queen's Square between 0900 and 1730 on 4 December.

NOTES

1. Media copies of 'Hot Shopping Tips' are available from the OFT on 020 7211 8993.

2. Non-media copies of 'Hot Shopping Tips' are available by calling 0870 60 60 321.

3. Wrexham is the fifteenth in the OFT's series of regional roadshows. Previous roadshows have taken place in Bristol, Leeds, Belfast, Newcastle, Kent, South Wales, Glasgow, Plymouth, Derby, Warrington, Southampton, Inverness, Reading and Peterborough. (For further details on the roadshows programme see OFT release 11/02.)

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