Summary
Pyjamas and jumpers are the most unwanted gifts we receive and in the post-Christmas period about 10% of us return at least one gift to the shops.
Since we spend about £80 billion over Christmas each year returning even a fraction of that involves a huge amount of money, both for shoppers and the shops.
Adam Shaw and guests explore what are our consumer rights. What you can and can’t return? What you need to prove the purchase was made and where a bit of post-Christmas goodwill might help you get a refund and exchange
Joining Adam are experts Jemma Cox from Welsh Trading Standards, Martyn James from the free resolution service Resolver, and Andrew Goodacre, CEO of BIRA, which is the leading trade association for independent retailers in the UK. And they hear from shop owners and customers about their experiences.
Producer Smita Patel Editor Emma Rippon
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one. |
| 0:06.5 | I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds. |
| 0:11.2 | I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects, |
| 0:16.0 | relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life. |
| 0:22.4 | So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature, |
| 0:28.3 | and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience, and maybe that's you. |
| 0:33.6 | So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:39.5 | BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. |
| 0:44.2 | Welcome to the download of Moneybox Live, the program about your money. |
| 0:48.5 | And today we're looking at the rights of return. |
| 0:51.9 | Unwanted pyjamas and other sleepwear are the most returned Christmas |
| 0:55.1 | presents, closely followed by unloved jumpers. And since we spend about 80 billion pounds over |
| 1:00.9 | Christmas each year, returning even a fraction of that involves a lot of money, both for shoppers |
| 1:05.4 | and of course for shops themselves. So in this week's Moneybox Live, we're looking at what you |
| 1:10.0 | can and can't return, what you need to prove. |
| 1:13.5 | The purchase was made and where a bit of post-Christmas goodwill might help you get a refund and exchange. |
| 1:19.4 | Let's start with the experience of one Moneybox listener. |
| 1:22.2 | Sonia has emailed into the program. |
| 1:25.0 | It talks about her being in the middle of a nightmare return |
| 1:28.3 | fiasco. She bought a large ice top maker, a countertop ice maker. It cost 150 pounds or |
| 1:35.0 | thereabouts. Turned out to be too large for her, wanted to return it. They wouldn't take it |
| 1:40.4 | back. So then she gave it to where she works at the community centre bar and found |
... |
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