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Hot shopping tips for autumn roadshow

Reading shoppers get lowdown on consumer rights

PN 127/03    1 October 2003

Shoppers in Reading are being targeted as part of a major OFT consumer awareness campaign on shoppers' rights.

The OFT will be on hand in Broad Street East (outside Coffee Republic) on Thursday 2 October to distribute 'Hot Shopping Tips', its handy pocket guide on shoppers' rights, and give out helpful advice and top tips. The OFT will be joined by trading standards officers from Reading 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 Reading shoppers:

• any goods you purchase must be of 'satisfactory quality', 'as described' and 'fit for their purpose'
• 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.

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 Madejski stadium in Reading to explain the OFT's role, listen to their views of how markets are working and help their understanding of competition and consumer protection laws.

Launching the roadshow, John Vickers, OFT Chairman, said:  'We want Reading shoppers to be in a better position to get what they want. If you know your shopping 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 in Broad East Street, near Coffee Republic, between 0900 and 1730 on Thursday 2 October.

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. Reading is the thirteenth 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 and Inverness. (For further details on the roadshows programme see PN 11/02.)

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