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As government figures reveal that UK consumers lose almost £5,000 on faulty goods in their lifetime, a new Trading Standards pilot scheme will see officers given more powers to award out-of-court refunds. Piloted in 10 Trading Standards teams throughout the country, new regulations will see Trading Standards chiefs able to win refunds and compensation for duped consumers without taking suppliers to court. Those owners constantly flouting consumer laws could also be fined one per cent of their annual turnover, as the government looks to safeguard consumer rights. Announcing the tough new rules, Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan, said: "They will make any rogue trader think twice before supplying a product or a service that is not up to scratch." Earlier this month, the government's Business Department surveyed over 3,000 shoppers, discovering that more than half had at least one item they wish they had sought a refund on. But, more than a third of those questioned said they felt nervous or embarrassed about returning to a store to ask for a refund or an exchange, while one in five felt intimidated. The changes and research form part of the government's consumer awareness campaign, and Mr Brennan believes more should be done to educate shoppers on their rights. "We want to do all we can to encourage people not to lose out financially because they do not know their rights," he said. "Now is the time to brush up on your consumer rights so you can return any faulty or unwanted goods with added confidence." Currently, consumers are entitled to a refund, replacement or repair of a faulty product if they issue a complaint “within a reasonable time”, dependant on individual circumstances, although consumers can request refunds up to six years after purchase.
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