Consumer Rights in Ireland
With the festive Season upon us and predictions by Ibec forecasting that spending for the Christmas season is expected to be in excess of €4.5 billion, we take a look at the rights that consumers have under Irish Law.
When a person buys goods or services they enter into a legal contract and are protected by law. A consumer is a natural person who is the actual purchaser of goods or services so therefore, the recipient of a gift is not included in this definition.
Consumers are protected by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980. This Act provides that goods must be of merchantable quality and fit for the purpose intended. The Act also stipulates that a consumer should not be misled by an advertisement or the salesperson.
If a consumer is unhappy with an item that they have purchased they are entitled for that item to be repaired, replaced or are entitled to a refund. The consumer must have proof of purchase and in the case where there is a fault with the item they should not have attempted to repair the item themselves. It is also important that the consumer does not delay in seeking redress.
Derek Walsh, Solicitor at Keating Connolly Sellors, can be contacted at [email protected] or by telephone on +353 (0)61 414 355 or +353 (0)61 414 353.
The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. We advise people to always seek specific expert advice for their individual circumstances.