UNSATISFACTORY GOODS & GOODS NOT FIT FOR THEIR PURPOSE

• The consumer’s rights are set out in the Sale of Goods Act 1979
• The consumer’s rights are set out in the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973
• The consumer’s rights are set out in the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
• Special protection for consumers dissatisfied with package holidays

Where a consumer is dissatisfied with goods or services then the rights of the disgruntled consumer depends on the nature of the relationship between the consumer and the person against whom the consumer wishes to make a claim. The are are basically five different consumer relationships where a consumer may be dissatisfied:

With goods which have been purchased in a straightforward sale (an example of this situation is where the consumer buys a pair of shoes which fall to bits after only one day after normal wear). This type of consumer relationship is called a contract for the sale of goods and the consumer’s rights are set out in the Sale of Goods Act 1979;

With goods purchased on hire-purchase (an example of this would be where the consumer buys a set of reproduction dining chairs one of which has a nail sticking out which perhaps injures the consumer). This type of consumer relationship is called a hire purchase contract and the consumer’s rights are set out in the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973;

With goods which are transferred to the consumer by virtue of some service being performed for the consumer, (an example of this situation is where a consumer has his TV repaired by an engineer who fits the wrong part or repairs it so badly that the picture is fuzzy). This type of consumer relationship is called a contract for works and materials and the consumer’s rights are set out in the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982;

With goods which are hired, (an example of this situation is where a consumer hires a sports car which fails to pick up speed adequately). This type of consumer relationship is called a contract for hire and the consumer’s rights here are set out in the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982;

With a service which is performed for the consumer (an example of this is where the consumer pays a architect to design a garage and the garage which is built exactly to the design falls down after a minor storm). This type of consumer relationship is called a contract for services and the consumer’s rights are set out in the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.