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Hot shopping tips for Preston shoppers

192/04    29 November 2004 

Shoppers in Preston 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 Preston city centre in the Old Fish Market,  Market Street, on Wednesday 1 December 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 advisers from Lancashire 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 Lancashire 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 Barton Grange Hotel in Garstang Road, Barton, Preston, 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 are here to raise consumers' awareness of their rights when shopping and to encourage them to think before they buy. It always pays to shop around.'

Jim Potts, Chief Officer for Lancashire Trading Standards, said:

'Lancashire Trading Standards receives 28,000 complaints from consumers every year. We welcome the opportunity to work with the OFT, with the aim of helping inform local consumers.'

The OFT consumer information stand will be located in the Old Fish Market, on Market Street and Earl Street in Preston city centre between 09.30 and 16.00 on 1 December.

NOTES

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

2. Non-media copies of 'Hot Shopping Tips' are available by calling 020 8867 3272.

3. Preston is the 23rd 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, Taunton, Ayr and Hertfordshire. (For further details on the roadshows programme see OFT release 11/02.)

4. Consumers can contact Lancashire Trading Standards Service with a complaint or for pre shopping advice and speak to a fully trained advisor. This service enables trading standards officers to monitor the types of complaints being received and quickly identify scams or rogue traders and take action to stop them.

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