Citizens Advice has issued an urgent warning to Christmas shoppers about counterfeit goods. The consumer organization logged over 1,000 additional complaints this year about fake products and services, raising concerns that people may unknowingly buy dangerous gifts during the festive season.
The majority of complaints came from physical shops, but 32 percent involved online websites or apps and 11 percent concerned online marketplaces. The most commonly reported counterfeit items include tobacco products and e-cigarettes, clothing and footwear, toys and games, toiletries and beauty products, and media devices and accessories.
Jane Parsons, Consumer Expert at Citizens Advice, warned: «Fake goods aren't only illegal, but they can be dangerous. Counterfeit children's toys often don't meet safety standards and can pose choking hazards - poor manufacturing can mean small parts are easily detachable.»
She advised consumers to watch for warning signs: «Consumers should watch out for strangely low prices from well-known brands, signs of poor quality like missing security seals, blurry logos or poor stitching and only buy from reputable sellers.»
Refund rights
Shoppers who suspect they bought a fake product are legally entitled to refunds. Within 30 days of purchase, consumers have the right to a full refund. Within six months, sellers must either provide the genuine version or issue a full refund. After six months, buyers are entitled to a partial refund based on how long they owned and used the item.
The refund process depends on payment method. Debit card users should contact their bank about the 'chargeback scheme'. For credit card purchases under £100, customers can request a chargeback. For purchases between £100 and £30,000 on credit cards, shoppers may need to make a Section 75 claim to their credit card company.
Sellers cannot refuse refunds by claiming an item was 'obviously fake', as selling counterfeit goods is illegal. Shoppers can report sellers to Trading Standards and seek assistance from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
