As we now prepare to start our Christmas shopping, many of us will be splashing out on Black Friday which is on 26th November, or Cyber Monday on 29th November. Your local Citizens Information Centre (CIC) is here to assist you if you have any issues with your purchases.
When you buy a product or a service you have a number of rights under Irish and European Union
(EU) legislation. These laws only apply to transactions between a consumer and a trader.
When you buy products they must be:
Of merchantable quality – this means of reasonable and acceptable standard, taking into
account other factors such as durability and price
Fit for the purpose you bought it for – they should work and do what they are reasonably
expected to do
As described – they should match any description given in an advert or other information
provided by the seller at the time of sale
EU consumer laws provide you with the following key rights:
You have the right to truthful advertising
You have the right to have faulty goods repaired or replaced
You have the right to contracts without unfair clauses
You have the right to return most goods purchased online within 14 days
You have the right to access goods and services on the same terms as local customers
Online shopping rights
When you buy online from an online trader in Ireland, or elsewhere in the EU, you have strong rights
under the EU Consumer Rights Directive (CRD).
These rights include:
The right to clear and accurate information
The right to change your mind and cancel (some purchases are not included)
The express right to refund for delays or non-delivery
Right to redress in case of faulty goods
Redress:
Dispute with an Irish-based trader: Contact the Competition and Consumer Protection
Commission (CCPC)
Dispute with a trader based in another EU country: Contact the European Consumer Centre
(ECC) Ireland
Funded by the Citizens Information Board , the range of areas covered by the Citizens Information
Service (CIS) are extremely wide including social welfare rights and entitlements and other social
issues such as employment, health services, housing, education, family matters and consumer rights
on which people need access to information.
A growing number of customers require in-depth assistance and CIS plays an important role in
providing advocacy with, or on behalf of, those people who need it, including people with
disabilities, migrants, refugees, lone parents, the Travelling Community, prisoners, geographically
isolated people and those who may not have access to digital resources. Basically anyone working
or living County Wicklow who has an issue that needs addressing or is at a crossroads in their lives.
For anyone needing impartial, confidential, non-judgemental and informed advice and support the
CIS is here to help, throughout the pandemic and as we emerge from the pandemic. There are many
ways to access our services. Our website www.citizensinformation.ie is packed full of helpful
information.
To find out our opening hours or if you would like us to address a specific query or to book an
appointment with a member of our team please contact your local Citizens Information Centre in
Bray CIC on 0818 07 6780. We are available from Monday to Friday and our services are free and
confidential.
