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Hot shopping tips for Northern Irish shoppers

186/05    3 October 2005

Shoppers in Northern Ireland 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 the Foyleside Shopping Centre, Orchard Street, Derry - Londonderry, on Thursday 6 October to distribute 'Hot shopping tips', its handy pocket guide on shoppers' rights, and to give  advice. The OFT will be joined by members of Northern Ireland's Trading Standards Service 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 Northern Irish 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 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 Best Western White Horse Hotel, 68 Clooney Road, Derry - Londonderry 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 very pleased to be here, to show consumers what their rights are when making a purchase, and to encourage them to shop around for the best deal.'

David Livingstone, Chief Inspector with Northern Ireland's Trading Standards Service said:

'I am extremely grateful to the OFT for hosting this excellent event here in Derry today. The roadshow and seminars will help consumers and businesses better understand their rights and obligations when buying and selling goods, and the Trading Standards Service is delighted to have the opportunity of joining with the OFT in making the day a real success.'

The OFT consumer information stand will be located in the Foyleside Shopping Centre, Orchard Street, Derry - Londonderry, to distribute 'Hot shopping tips' on Thursday 6 October between 09:00 and 17:00.

NOTES

1. Media copies of 'Hot shopping tips' are available from the Office of Fair Trading (see numbers below).

2. Non-media copies of 'Hot shopping tips' are available by calling 0800 389 3158.

3. Derry - Londonderry is the 28th 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, Hertfordshire, Preston, Crawley, Powys, Dudley and Oxford. (For further details on the roadshow programme see OFT press release 11/02.)

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