SEVEN CHRISTMAS TIPS
Most traders are honest. However, there are some unscrupulous ones who consider Christmas a golden opportunity to fleece the public. Therefore, dear readers, in the prevailing scenario, I give you the following tips on ‘protecting your rights’.
1) Work-from-home scams
Watch out for the seasonal spate of advertisements of scams to rip off the unsuspecting parent trying to make those extra euros over Christmas. I am referring to those notorious “work from home” schemes, which more often than not turn out to be some simple pyramid scheme that sees your money disappear into someone else’s pocket.
2) Make sure it’s safe
Be very careful and see to it that any toys you buy are safe. Look out for heads that come off dolls, revealing sharp parts a toddler can swallow, (eg the eyes on soft dolls). Be wary about bikes that break at the welded points. Also make sure that toys work before you wrap them up, and make sure you have the right batteries. Check for the CE mark and any warnings on the packaging.
3) Counterfeits and/or pirate copies
At some point during the festive season, many shops may be sold out of the latest toy, computer game, video or compact disc. However, isn’t it lucky that you can pick one up from ‘certain’ traders for a fraction of the price? No it isn’t! It is likely to be a shoddily made or even dangerous fake. Therefore, don’t disappoint your children. Buy the real thing or else wait until it is available from reputable shops. Counterfeiters find it easy to make a killing at Christmas selling pirated software, videos or dodgy computers done up and sold as new. If it works at all, you are lucky. With regard to dubious software or videos, they may damage your machine! Buy the proper licensed software from reputable, respectable shops. You will at least get some support if you have problems after the sale.
4) Keep your receipt
As far as the person for whom you buy the present is concerned, there may be a problem – ranging from size to duplication. Therefore check and obtain written confirmation of whatever commitment or agreement the shop in question is prepared to accept. Keep the receipt and inform your friend or relative. This will make it much easier to take the gift back after Christmas – faulty or not!
5) Keep a level head at the party
When you pay for your drinks at parties, make sure you check your change. Dishonest bars and catering establishments that take advantage of their customers when they are most vulnerable do not deserve our custom and we would do well to share information about them. Check your change before it’s too late.
6) Never-never shopping
For people with very limited means, the idea of paying for things by instalments seems a good idea and worth the premium price. However, make sure you can afford to repay by instalments, otherwise a Happy Christmas could result in a miserable New Year.
7) Electric shockers:
Electrically unsafe Christmas tree lights can give a nasty shock or set fire to your house. Tree ornaments may break and harm a child. A child may swallow toxic chemicals. Be careful when decorating the Christmas tree: make sure lights are double insulated and, if in doubt, get a new set – they will cost less than a redecoration job.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Going on holiday for Christmas? What if the hotel is not as the one I booked, or is not the same as the one I booked, or not as described in the brochure?
If you don’t get exactly what you have paid for, the organiser must make suitable alternative arrangements at no extra cost. Otherwise, you are entitled to compensation for any services not provided. For example, if you booked a four-star hotel and in reality had to stay in a three-star, you are entitled to be compensated accordingly.
Immediately contact the local representative of the tour operator or the supplier of the service immediately, and clearly state your complaint in writing and say what you expect them to do.
What are my rights when I buy over the internet?
When you buy over the internet you have the same rights as when you buy from a shop. Moreover, you have additional rights because you are ‘buying at a distance’, without having the opportunity to examine the products or services. These additional rights also apply to other means of buying at a distance, including buying through catalogues (‘mail order’) and teleshopping.
What rights do I have if a product I bought is faulty or is not in conformity?
You have the right to have the goods repaired or replaced free of charge by the trader who sold it to you. If this is not possible, you may ask for a reduction in the price or for a full refund.
Advertising
With Christmas approaching, now is an appropriate time to focus on advertising. There are two major types of advertising: informative and competitive. Informative advertising simply informs. Supermarkets advertise their prices; stereo shops advertise brands as well as prices; and producers advertise new products.
The consumer, who is constantly informed about prices, products and availability, can take in information and use it accordingly. The consumer is not asked whether a product is better or worse or whether a company does a good or a bad job. You are simply fed information about price and availability of goods/service.
At this time, we must also bear in mind that we have a wide choice of brands of the same items. However, there is also a wide choice of traders whose customer service and prices vary. Therefore shop around.
Send your letters by ordinary mail to The Customer Service Column, The Malta Independent on Sunday, Standard House, Birkirkara Hill, St Julian's STJ 1149 or by email to [email protected], including your and the respective trader's/supplier's full name and address, outlining your grievance and copy in the respective trader/supplier.
Complainants must be prepared to have their full personal details disclosed to traders/suppliers, their case published and their name featured in full. It is up to the complainant to chase the progress of his/her case with the supplier by ordinary mail or email, while also copying me in.
We follow up all letters of
complaint by asking suppliers or traders for their comments. Since we have cases where traders/suppliers refuse to communicate, complainants are kindly requested to inform us if their case has been positively resolved.
It is regretted that advice on personal complaints cannot always be given. Unfortunately, we often have consumers who refer their case to this column and then, when their case has been positively concluded, ask us not to feature the case.
Therefore we must stress that LETTERS, ONCE SENT, CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN AND ALL CASES ARE SUBJECT TO PUBLICATION. Readers are kindly requested not to phone The Malta Independent offices in connection with the column. Their queries must be put in writing.