Martin Lewis has warned Christmas fans they may need to do something most people would rather avoid - open presents before Christmas Day.
The finance expert has urged Brits to familiarise themselves with some lesser-known return policies, particularly during the festive season. The 53-year-old founder of MoneySavingExpert addressed this on This Morning, whilst conceding that it's often unpopular advice.
Whilst you might assume that return policies are the same whether shopping online or in-store, this isn't necessarily the case. In fact, if you purchase an item in a physical shop and simply change your mind about the colour, you may not have an automatic statutory right to return it unless it is faulty.
"If they have a published returns policy, you do, but they may have suspended it pre-Christmas," Martin explained on the ITV programme. "Those types of things happen.
"The next thing you need to understand, order online and you do have a 14-day period to change your mind, unless it’s a personalised or perishable item. So, you’ve got 14 days to notify them and 14 days after to send it back."
Whether you buy an item online or in-store, you typically have 30 days to return it for a full refund if it's faulty under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. However, Martin warned that this process might become more complex during the festive period.
For example, if you purchase a Christmas present at the end of November but don't intend to give it until January 1, and that item is faulty, you are 'through your period', which means you might only be entitled to a repair or replacement.
In light of these risks, Martin suggested that Brits should unwrap any presents they purchase before gifting them. Despite acknowledging that this might be an unpopular suggestion, he hopes to normalise this practice during the festive season.
On This Morning, he continued: "If it’s sitting there now, open it before you give it to them. So you have got a chance to send it back if it’s faulty, or a chance to send it back online if it isn’t right for them. And then seal it back up.
"And, if they ask, say, 'I opened it just to check it wasn’t faulty.'"
Government advice on refunds and returns
GOV.UK states that you might not qualify for a refund in certain circumstances, including the following:
- You knew an item was faulty when you bought it
- You damaged an item by trying to repair it yourself or getting someone else to do it (though you may still have the right to a repair, replacement or partial refund)
- You no longer want an item (for example, because it’s the wrong size or colour) unless you bought it without seeing it
Nevertheless, customers are entitled to refunds on certain items only if they’re faulty, such as:
- Personalised items and custom-made items, for example, curtains
- Perishable items, for example, frozen food or flowers
- Newspapers and magazines
- Unwrapped CDs, DVDs and computer software
Addressing online purchases, the Government also adds: "Online, mail and telephone order customers have the right to cancel their order for a limited time even if the goods are not faulty. Sales of this kind are known as 'distance selling'.
"You must offer a refund to customers if they’ve told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. They have another 14 days to return the goods once they’ve told you.
"You must refund the customer within 14 days of receiving the goods back. They do not have to provide a reason." For more information, visit GOV.UK here.
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