Replacement

For many years retailers have voluntarily offered a repair or replacement of faulty goods. These remedies are given a legal status under the Regulations. In other words the consumer can cite the Regulations, in force from 31 March 2003, in specifically requesting a repair or a replacement for purchases that do not conform to contract.

Confronted with a five-year-old TV with an inherent fault, the consumer can request that it be repaired rather than pursuing compensation to pay for a repair that he then has to arrange himself. Alternatively, he could request a replacement five- year-old TV of the same/similar specification, assuming that finding one was practicable (perhaps only so for a dealer of both new and second-hand products).