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Consumer Education

It's National Consumer Week 17th November 2008 - "Be a Savvy Shopper this Christmas!"

Before you buy:

Shop around and compare prices. Consider all the options before committing yourself:

• Compare prices (including extras for postage),
• Consider paying for goods/services costing over £100 using a credit card.
• This gives you an equal claim in law against the credit card provider if the seller goes out of business, or if the goods are faulty or misdescribed.
• Paying by credit card can also protect you from misrepresentations made by the seller concerning the goods/services before the contract is made regardless of the cost of the goods. Worth thinking about!

Shopping in the High Street:

• Find out the shop's policy for the return of 'unwanted' or 'unsuitable' gifts. Shops do not have to take goods back unless they are faulty, misdescribed, or not fit for a pre-agreed purpose. Anything else offered such as a refund, credit note, or exchange is on good will.
• Keep the receipt in a safe place in case you are asked to show proof of purchase.
• Good will policies - if the shop has a good will policy for the return of unused goods, and the goods are for a gift, ask if they issue 'gift receipts'. These are receipts that show 'proof of purchase' but do not state the price, and will enable the recipient to exchange unwanted gifts within a given time.

Shopping by Mail Order, Telephone or on the Internet

• Only use 'safe' sites when shopping on the internet.
• Check time schedules for delivery.
• Order early to give plenty of time to allow for delays … just in case.
• Carry out a search on the company name to find out if there are any adverse comments about them on line. If you are unsure then don't shop with them. Make sure you have a full address and telephone contact details.
• Generally you will have 7 working days to 'cool' off , cancel the contract by law, and return the goods (there are a few exceptions to this rule, e.g. perishable goods, and wrapped CD/DVDs). You may have to pay for the return postage.
• Print a hard copy of your order details and a description of the goods.
• Buying gifts - remember that if you are buying goods for a gift over the internet the 'cooling off period' starts from the day following receipt of the goods, not when they are received by the person to whom you are giving them as a gift. Therefore:
• Read the terms and conditions of the contract all the way through before committing yourself. If you tick a box stating that you have read the terms and conditions, and you haven't, then you will still be bound by them.

FINALLY

• A word of warning - using your credit card can be expensive unless you pay the balance off at the end of each month, so don't buy on credit unless you can afford to pay it back. It's not worth having a great Christmas if you are in debt for the following year. Our advice is:
• Shop around for credit.
• Compare deals in the same way as you would if you were buying a TV.
• Don't sign anything unless you are sure that you will be able to afford it.
• There may be an extra charge for paying by credit card. If so, you can pay a minimal amount on your card, and the balance by another method, such as cash or debit card. You will still have the protection of 'equal liability' with your card provider as you do with the seller where the price of the goods is over £100.

All year Consumer Direct advise consumers how to shop with confidence and avoid pitfalls.

If you would like advice

Tel: Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06

Website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk .

Ask Cedric?

• Teachers can find comprehensive teaching notes on consumer issues on the Ask Cedric website . Keystages 1-4 are covered.
• The site has been developed by Trading Standards Officers with guidance from PSHE/Citizenship Co-ordinators and Teachers to ensure that it is suitable for the classroom. 

Vision Food Hall

• Visit 'Vision ' (Virtual Interactive Shopping Information Online).
• It is a web based three-dimensional virtual food hall created by Gloucestershire Trading Standards which provides information on  food labelling, health and nutrition to consumers in an easy to understand format, as well as highlighting the detrimental affects of consuming too many ready prepared foods and snacks which contain high levels of sugar, fat and salt.  
• The food hall, which contains over 90 different food items within its aisles, also has a butchery, fish counter, and delicatessen. Visitors have the option to explore the hall and read short messages about each item of food, or undertake a challenge entitled 'Are you balanced?' which aims not to create winners or losers, but get people thinking about a balanced diet.
• The website is www.visionfoodhall.com

Wise Guys  -  Support for Special Schools

• Special school teachers are being offered online support to deliver parts of the citizenship and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum. 
• A new website - www.wiseguys.org.uk - has been developed to help teachers to teach life skills to students with learning difficulties. The aim is to empower pupils to become informed and confident consumers. The website has been developed jointly by Trading Standards officers at East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council and Milton Keynes Council with input from special school teachers and students.
• The website is a FREE resource for teachers to help educate the students about their rights and responsibilities and support them as they develop into confident consumers.
• The website contains comprehensive lessons covering Key Stages 1-4 and has been designed to fit in with the citizenship and PSHE curriculum.
• It includes a character - 'Di Lemma' the monkey - to guide the students through all the different subject areas. The lessons cover areas such as making choices, rules, healthy living, keeping safe, Europe, and the role of Trading Standards. Each lesson includes teaching intentions and notes and student handouts and activities.

'Skilled to Go' - OFT Education Resource To Boost Consumer Skills

• The toolkit, 'Skilled to go' , is a free online resource that uses everyday consumer situations, such as choosing a mobile phone package or shopping online, as the basis to develop consumer skills, knowledge and confidence.
•  It is designed for use by teachers in further education settings including colleges, community education and offender learning to support learners on literacy and numeracy courses.
• 'Skilled to go' currently has three modules: Buying and selling, Technology, and Utilities, and is available in variations for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to reflect the legal differences in each of the countries as well as relevant geographic examples and websites.