Consumer rights
A quick rundown of your rights when you buy something. It applies to assistive technology products as well as things you buy in the high street
General principles
When you buy goods from a business they must:
- be of satisfactory quality - that is free from faults, safe, last a reasonable length of time and do what they're supposed to do
- match any description given about them. If they were falsely described there may be a criminal offence which you should report to your local trading standards service
- be fit for purpose - do what they are meant to do. If you told the seller you needed them for a specific purpose or to stand up to being used in a particular way, they should be fit for that too. This can be important if you use a product in a slightly different way or make particular demands on it because of your impairment. There can be disputes about fitness for purpose if the product does not work as you would expect in these circumstances. Ask the seller if it will be suitable, taking into account how you will use it (for example "It must fit into my car", "It must be possible to hear signals with a hearing aid"). To protect yourself make this a condition of purchase and get it in writing.
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