Cards to tell shoppers about rights

Some 2.4 million consumer rights cards are to be distributed around the country in the next two weeks, it was announced yesterday.

The wallet-sized Shoppers' Rights Cards set out consumer rights that people should be aware of when buying goods.

A pack containing two cards will be sent to 1.2 million households by the National Consumer Agency (NCA), a consumer advocacy group set up by the Government in May 2005, as part of their Consumer Rights Awareness Campaign.

The campaign will run until winter 2006 and will include advertising on television, radio and in print. Phase one, launched before Christmas, encouraged consumers to hold on to their receipts when shopping for presents.

Ann Fitzgerald, chairwoman of the NCA, said that research has shown the majority of consumers are not aware of their rights and when faced with a problem do not know how to go about addressing it.

Over 90 per cent of people surveyed by the Consumer Strategy Group believe that they need to be better educated about consumer rights. "The card is designed so that consumers, when shopping, can easily refer to it, if they need to check their entitlements under law," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"The National Consumer Agency aims, through this broad-reaching campaign, to educate and inform consumers so that we have an environment where consumers are well versed in their rights and are a force to be reckoned with."

The cards state that consumers should always ask for a receipt and also that they should act quickly if they have a complaint. They are not entitled to a refund if they simply change their mind.However, if goods turn out to be faulty or are wrongly described, the consumer is entitled to a refund or to have them repaired or replaced.