Know your rights before you hit the shops

With fewer than 15 shopping days left until Christmas and many people buying the latest must-have gadgets and toys or looking forward to the sales, the Know Your Consumer Rights campaign is reminding shoppers to be aware of their rights.

If you've paid for something and you're not happy, establishing your rights is the first step towards claiming the refund, repair or replacement you may be entitled to.

The key rules to be aware of are:

Goods must fit the description given
Goods must be of satisfactory quality
Goods must be fit for purpose

Who we are

The ‘Know Your Consumer Rights' campaign is a joint initiative between the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS), Trading Standards Institute (TSI), Consumer Direct, Consumer Focus and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Consumer Direct is a government-funded advice service for consumers and should be your first port of call for practical help with how to complain. For more information go to consumerdirect.gov.uk.