The Consumer Rights Act 2015

Hello and welcome to the first in a series of blogs by Velocity Dispute Management which will explore different areas of law. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 became an implied term of the contract to all contract's consumer contracts agreed on or after 1 October 2015, where the contract involves the sale of goods, digital content and services. In this blog, we focus on the critical characteristics of the Act.

Consumers' Rights when Purchasing Goods, including Sales, Hire- purchase agreements (which includes PCP car purchase agreements) and Hire or lease goods.

Goods must be of what the reasonable person would consider Satisfactory Quality, which includes:

o Any description of the goods

o The price or other consideration for the goods

o Fitness for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are usually supplied

o Appearance and finish

o Freedom from minor defects

o Safety

o Durability

o Must match any models seen by the consumer

o Installed goods must be installed correctly and unless expressly otherwise

o Without undue delay and within 30 days unless otherwise stated

Consumers' Rights when Goods are not of Satisfactory Quality:

o Free of Charge Repair or Replacement within a reasonable time without significant inconvenience

o If the goods are not fixed correctly at the first attempt, consumers are entitled to a price reduction or may reject the goods and get a refund (although, in some cases, it does not need to be a full refund)

o If the goods are not fixed correctly at the first attempt, and a price reduction is not suitable for the consumer, they can reject the goods and get a refund; however, this may not be a full refund in some cases.

o For the first six months from purchase, the seller has to prove the goods were of satisfactory quality.

The rights set out above are a summary of the consumer's rights relating to goods Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and, where required, can be enforced in court. However, in our experience, it is often best to begin discussions early with the other party to reach an agreeable solution. Where a challenge occurs, Velocity Dispute Management can assist in finding a suitable solution as quickly as possible. If you wish to discuss how Velocity Dispute Management can support you or discuss this blog's content, please contact admin@velocitydisputemanagemet.co.uk or book a strategic review meeting where one of our consultants will review your situation and create an action plan to utilise your rights in law to resolve the problem.