Consumer champion Martin Lewis has issued a powerful reminder to UK shoppers about their fundamental legal rights when purchases go wrong. The money saving expert emphasised that people are often incorrectly turned away by retailers when they could be entitled to a repair, replacement, or refund.
The Warranty Myth and Your Legal Rights
Speaking on a recent episode of his BBC podcast, Lewis tackled a common frustration, particularly with high-tech items. He highlighted scenarios where consumers take a broken device, like a smartphone, back to the manufacturer's store after 18 months, only to be told the one-year warranty has expired.
"My answer is warranty shwarranty," stated Lewis. He explained that a warranty is a voluntary manufacturer's promise, but your statutory rights are a separate legal protection held with the retailer you bought from. This is crucial when the retailer and manufacturer are the same entity, such as Apple or Samsung.
Understanding the 'SAD FART' Rule
Lewis distilled the core of consumer law into a memorable two-word reminder: your rights. He elaborated using the 'SAD FART' acronym, which stands for the legal requirements that goods must be of satisfactory quality, as described, fit for purpose, and last a reasonable length of time.
"You're saying under the law, this item must last a reasonable length of time, it has not lasted a reasonable length of time, therefore you are responsible for repair and replacement," he advised telling the retailer. The key is to engage with the shop in its capacity as a retailer, not just as a manufacturer's outlet.
A Call for Education and Navigating Grey Areas
Martin Lewis made a strong case for integrating this knowledge into the national curriculum. "We should teach this in schools," he urged. He summarised the principle simply: your rights are with the retailer; if an item is faulty, they must offer a full refund within 30 days, or a repair or replacement afterwards.
He acknowledged that what constitutes a "reasonable length of time" is a grey area that depends on the product and its cost. Furthermore, he clarified that for items bought in-store, there is no automatic legal right to return something simply because you changed your mind, though many shops have more generous voluntary policies.
For online purchases, rights are stronger, with consumers typically having a 14-day cooling-off period to notify the retailer of a return, and another 14 days to send the item back. Lewis concluded by stressing that your statutory legal rights always take precedence over any shop policy that offers less protection.
