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Faulty goods cost consumers up to £5,000 in a lifetime

A poll for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has indicated that UK consumers lose an average of £78 a year due to faulty goods they have failed to take back to the shops, a figure that equates to almost £5,000 in a lifetime.

The research was undertaken as part of the ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign which aims to make sure that shoppers get a fair deal by knowing how and when to take goods back to the shops. 3,000 individuals were surveyed to gather information.

Fear is playing a major part in stopping shoppers from returning goods and from getting a fair deal. Shoppers have the right to return faulty items, but many stores allow returns for unwanted goods even if you have just changed your mind.

Yet more than a third (36%) of those surveyed feel nervous when they try to return an unwanted item to a store and 40% feel embarrassed (21%) or intimidated (19%). Londoners are the most anxious shoppers with more than half (55%) feeling nervous when taking back an unwanted item, while consumers in the North West are the least nervous (27%).

Commenting on the research Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan said:

“We want to do all we can to encourage people not to lose out financially because they don’t know their rights. Now is the time to brush up on your consumer rights so you can return any faulty or unwanted goods with added confidence. “

 

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