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Hot shopping tips top the list for Ayrshire shoppers

154/04    27 September 2004

Shoppers in Ayr are being targeted by the OFT with hot shopping tips and advice as part of a major consumer awareness campaign.

Download Hot shopping tips (pdf 27 kb).

The OFT will be in Ayr town centre in Burns Statue Square car park on Thursday 30 September to distribute 'Hot shopping tips', its handy pocket guide on shoppers' rights, and to give out helpful advice and top tips. The OFT will be joined by advisors from South Ayrshire Trading Standards 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 Ayr 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 Ramada Ayr Hotel, Dalblair Road, 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, Penny Boys, OFT Executive Director, said:

'We want Ayr shoppers to be thinking about their purchases. If you know your rights and shop around, you are more likely to get the best deal and get any problems dealt with effectively.'

Douglas Campbell, convener of South Ayrshire Council's Community Safety Committee added:

'We are very pleased to welcome the OFT to Ayr. I'm sure the advice and assistance from them will be very useful to shoppers and businesses alike. In addition, our local advisors will be on hand to assist anyone with a problem with goods and services.'

The OFT consumer information stand will be located in the Burns Statue Square car park between 09.00 and 17.00 on Thursday 30 September.

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. Ayr is the 21st 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, Peterborough, Wrexham, Worcester, Carlisle, Newry, Hull and Taunton. (For further details on the roadshows programme see press release 11/02.)

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