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Hot shopping tips for east London shoppers

223/05    6 December 2005

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

The OFT will be in Stratford library 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 members of London Borough of Newham 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 east London 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 Crowne Plaza London Docklands, Royal Victoria Dock, 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, Philip Collins, OFT Chairman, said:

'We want shoppers in and around east London 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.'

The OFT consumer information stand will be located in Stratford library atrium, The Grove, E15 to distribute 'Hot shopping tips' on Wednesday 7 December between 09.30 and 16.00.

NOTES

1. Media copies of 'Hot shopping tips' are available by calling 020 7211 8993.

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

3. East London is the 30th 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, Oxford, Derry-Londonderry and Dundee. (For further details on the roadshow programme see press release 11/02.)

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