Free on-line training
Training yourself and your staff on consumer rights can lead to an enhanced business reputation and provide a competitive edge that your business can benefit from in the market place.

The Trading Standards Institute now offers the fair trading award^TM (FTA) as online accredited training.

Two of the modules - Sale of Goods, and Supply of Goods and Services - are FREE OF CHARGE. Each module can be completed in 30-45 minutes, and you will be able to print off a certificate upon completion.

Access the modules - Opens in a new window

The following organisations are also a useful source of information on consumer rights issues:

• Office of Fair Trading - Opens in a new window 
• Consumer Direct - Opens in a new window 
• Consumer Focus - Opens in a new window 
• Trading Standards Institute - Opens in a new window 

If you run a business that sells goods or services you may, at some point, have to deal with consumers who are unhappy with an aspect of the transaction. To deal effectively with the situation and provide good customer service, it's important that you and your staff are aware of the Sale of Goods Act and the rights consumers have. This places you in a better position to deal with these situations as they arise.

We've brought together in one place the information your business needs to keep you up-to-date on consumers' rights.

The three key consumer rights

There are three key legal rights your customers have when they buy or hire goods from you. Goods:

• Must fit the description given
  Packaging and labelling must be clear and honest.
• Should be of satisfactory quality
  Goods you sell should be safe, work properly, and have no defects.
• Must be fit for their purpose
  Anything that is sold by you must be capable of doing what it's meant for.