Counterfeit goods: your rights explained How to complain
Summary
A quick summary of your rights:
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You can't be prosecuted for buying fake goods
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In theory you have the same rights as when buying genuine goods - but they may be impossible to enforce
If you think you have seen counterfeit medicines for sale
Do not use them. Make a note of the product name and batch number as well as the place that you saw them for sale.
Contact the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as soon as possible. It is responsible for licensing medicines and health devices in the UK and making sure that they work and are safe.
It can prosecute anyone who sells counterfeit medicines. It also issues alerts about counterfeit products that it has found.
If you find other types of counterfeit goods on sale
Make a note of the items and where you saw them being sold and by who. Do not confront the trader.
Report your concerns as soon as possible, preferably by phone, to the trading standards office that covers the area the trader is based in. You can find contact details for offices across the UK at trading standards.
Trading standards can prosecute and issue safety warnings. If counterfeit food or alcohol is found they may pass details to the Food Standards Agency, which can issue a Food Alert to warn consumers.
Reporting counterfeit websites
Brand-i, supported by Trading Standards, is a website which allows you to check if the website you're purchasing from is an authorised supplier of the brand.
If you spot a site that you believe might be supplying counterfeit goods, report the website.
Additional protection from the law
- Find out what protection you have from the Sale of Goods Act for retailers to supply goods of a satisfactory quality.
- Find out what protection you have under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act when paying for goods over £100 but under £30,000 by credit card.
