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Paying by credit card gives you rights if things go wrong
My new DVD or Blu-ray player has been delivered and it’s faulty. What are my rights?
If you buy something that’s faulty, doesn’t do what it is supposed to, or is not what you ordered, you have rights to a refund, repair or replacement under the Sale of Goods Act.
Contact the retailer you bought the item from. If it doesn’t help you, you can take legal action to force it to sort out the problem (through the small claims court, for example). Your first port of call is always the seller, not the manufacturer.
See the Which? guide to dealing with faulty goods for more information.
I bought my DVD/Blu-ray player online, but when it arrived it was broken. The online retailer says to take it up with the courier company. Can it do this?
No. The Distance Selling Regulations state that the seller is responsible for the quality and condition of the goods up until you receive them. Tell the shop to send you a new DVD or Blu-ray player, or give your money back. It also has to pick up any damaged goods.
If the retailer refuses or doesn't respond, you could give it a final chance and warn that you intend to start court action if it doesn't replace the item or give you your money back.
See the Which? guide to online shopping problems for more information.
Do I get extra cover if I pay for my DVD or Blu-ray player by credit card?
Yes. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, the card company is ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means it is equally responsible, along with the retailer, for the goods, and you can contact the card company to sort out your problem.
This right is particularly useful if the retailer has gone bust or it doesn’t respond to your letters or phone calls. Section 75 applies even if you buy goods for delivery to the UK from overseas by telephone, mail order or over the internet. Goods must cost between £100 and £30,000, and the law doesn’t apply to debit or charge cards.
See the Which? guide to your rights when paying by credit card for more. For more information on your rights when making purchases, check out the Which? guides to your rights.
What do I do with my old DVD or Blu-ray player?
Retailers have an obligation to dispose of your old DVD or Blu-ray player.
Under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Weee) Regulations, retailers have to take back electrical goods that you want to dispose of, free of charge. This is on a one-for-one basis, provided the new equipment you've bought is of a similar type and has the same function as the old equipment.
