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Focus Winter 2015

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30 days to get a refund For the first time a specific

timeframe has been created in which you can reject
a faulty item and get a full refund - now 30 days

A tiered remedy systemIn place for faulty goods,

digital content and services, this means your rights
to a refund are now more clearly set out. Whether
you're entitled to a refund depends on how long
you've owned the product.

Failed repairsAfter one failed attempt by the re-

tailer to repair or replace a faulty item, you're enti-
tled to ask for a refund or price reduction.

A second repair or replacement If you don't want

a refund or price reduction, you have the right to
request another repair or replacement at no cost
to you.

Deductions from refundsNo deduction can be

made from a refund in the first six months after
purchase. The only exception to this is motor
vehicles, where a reasonable reduction may be

made for the use you’ve had of the vehicle.

Digital content rightsThis new law gives consum-

ers rights in relation to online digital content that is
paid for, digital content supplied free with other
paid for items and digital content supplied on a
physical medium, such as a DVD.

Unfair terms in consumer contracts It will now be

easier for consumers to challenge hidden fees and
charges. Now the key terms of a contract, including
price, may be assessed for fairness unless they’re
both prominent and transparent.

Pre-contract information The Consumer Rights Act

states that if a retailer provides pre-contract infor-
mation in relation to a service and the consumer
takes this information into account, the service must
comply with that information.

A recent ruling by the European Union could allow local
companies to protect their business reputations.

Up until now, protected geographical status could only be as-
signed to consumable ‘farmed’ products such as the Newmarket
sausage, Wensleydale cheese or Whitstable oysters.
The new laws, championed by Suffolk Euro MP Richard Howitt,
give additional geographical protection to authentic, local and
original non-agricultural products.
This means companies such as Vanners Silk in Sudbury cannot
have their goods copied or imitated. Vanners Silk, in Weavers
Lane, has a history in the town dating back to 1740. Mr Howitt
visited the factory recently. He said: “At the moment, it’s only
agricultural products like meats and cheeses that are protected,
but this new law will mean that other products can benefit from
the same geographical protection. “The move is great news for
local businesses like Vanners, which is an extremely important
part of the community and a very old firm that still produces top
of the range, unique and regionally exclusive goods”

Clare Priory Church extension consecrated

A 200-seat extension to Clare Priory Church was consecrated
recently in a service led by the Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt
Rev Alan Hopes.
The service held at the Church of Mother of Good Counsel was
held before a 200-strong congregation of church and civic
dignitaries, corporate donors, parishioners, those involved in
the work and representatives of other local churches.
The building, which cost around £1.2m, is an extension to the
original 13

century church built by friars of the Augustinian

order. The building has already won the “Building Conserva-
tion” category in the Eastern Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors 2015 Awards, and been declared Project of the Year
It will now go forward for a possible national award.
Leading the consecration Mass, Bishop Alan, said: “The new
building has grown out of the ancient stones over the past few
years and worship here will enable the mission of the church to
grow further and flourish”

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is the biggest shake up in
consumer rights law in a generation and seeks to simplify,
strengthen and modernise UK consumer law.
The act replaces three big pieces of consumer legislation -
the Sale of Goods Act, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts
Regulations and the Supply of Goods and Services Act.

The Consumer Rights Act introduces:

Priory Church and Extension

Vanners in Sudbury