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*Average saving is based on customers who switched a gas and/or electricity contract between 1 June 2017 and 6 December 2017. For 99% of customers, we were able to directly compare the deal switched
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the usage data shared with us. Your actual savings may vary. Date 07/12/2017.You can save on average £2 73 * a year
(^2018) I SAGA.CO.UK/AUG-MAG (^101)
It may only be a receipt, but you
have a contract. This is governed by
the Consumer Rights Act 20 15.
‘If the jumper has shrunk, the dry
cleaner is in breach of its care and skill
obligation. You are entitled to a full refund
of the cost of the service,’ explains
Helen Brown, partner at law firm Slater
Heelis LLP in Sale. ‘If you cannot wear the
jumper, you’ve suffered additional loss
for which they must also compensate
you. But they only need to give you the
value of the item that was left with
them, typically the second-hand value.’
Provide them with the receipt for the
jumper if you have it. If not, find the cost
of a similar new one to negotiate
a reasonable figure. If they refuse to
settle, contact the Textile Services
Association via drycleaningadvice.org
or go to Citizens Advice. HJ
A
Legally, the onus is on
the vendor. Sarah Garner,
a solicitor with DAS Law in
Bristol, explains, ‘The DVD
seller has an obligation to
ensure the items are delivered
to your address. The goods
remain their risk until they
come into the physical
possession of the consumer, so
you should contact the seller
to provide you with replacement
goods or a refund. As they have
paid Royal Mail to provide
a service, they should pursue
them for breach of contract if
they failed to provide the
contracted service.’
If the vendor has a tracking
number, they can chase
the goods via Royal Mail.
However, if the seller is being
difficult, try eBay’s Money
Back Guarantee (eMBG)
scheme. Buyers will either get
their items or a refund. The
only caveat is you need to have
paid using PayPal. It works
as follows: contact the seller
within 30 days of the delivery
date. If they don’t fix things
within eight days, you should
tell eBay. It will refund you
through PayPal. JC
Q
I took my cashmere jumper to a dry cleaner.
When I picked it up, it had shrunk. I asked
them to pay for a new one, but they only offered
to refund the dry-cleaning cost. What can I do?
Q
We moved from a town to
a village. My mobile had
good coverage in our old home,
but now it’s awful. I’m halfway
through a 12-month contract –
can I end it?
A
Companies must provide
a contracted service with
reasonable care and skill.
‘If they can’t, you could end
the contract without paying
early termination penalties,’
says solicitor Sarah Garner.
You need to prove the provider
is at fault. It may argue it’s not
as you didn’t have poor coverage
when you signed the contract,
and claim you’re in breach for
not honouring your contract.
If coverage is OK everywhere
but your home, ask the provider
to carry out tests to fix the issue.
‘If it can’t, tell your provider
you’re cancelling the contract
due to poor signal,’ says Sarah.
If after two months you’ve got
nowhere, or the company says
they can do no more to help,
contact the Communications
and Internet Services
Adjudication Scheme or
Ombudsman Services. JC
Q
I bought some DVDs on
eBay but they were
delivered to the wrong house.
The seller refuses to refund me,
saying Royal Mail is responsible.
Should I chase Royal Mail, the
seller or eBay for a refund?
Money
Have a question?
Email [email protected], or
write to Consumer Questions
at the address on p7. We can
answer your queries only
on this page or on our website
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