Consumers Hub FAQ

If a product is faulty, not fit for purpose, or does not meet the quality normally expected, you can ask the seller to repair or replace it. If neither option is possible, you may ask for a partial or full refund. If the seller refuses to provide a remedy, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

The law does not set a fixed number of days for a repair. However, the repair must be carried out within a reasonable time and without causing you serious inconvenience. If the repair takes too long, you may refuse that remedy and ask for another one. If you cannot reach an agreement with the seller, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

Once both the legal guarantee and any commercial guarantee have expired, you are no longer entitled to a free remedy from the seller. This means that any new repair will normally be at your own expense, even if it is the same fault as before.

It depends on where and how the contract was signed. If you signed the contract at the trader’s premises, the 14-day cooling-off period does not apply. If you cancel, you may have to pay penalties set out in the contract. If you signed the contract online, over the phone, at home, or anywhere outside the trader’s premises, you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period, during which you can cancel without extra charges.

In general, both the buyer and the seller are expected to honour the sales agreement. If you decide not to continue with the purchase, you may lose the deposit and could still be required to complete the sale. This is especially likely where the item was reserved or ordered specifically for you. If you want to cancel, you would need the seller to agree.

No, not simply because another shop sold it for less. Sellers are free to set their own prices. The important legal requirement is that the price must be clearly displayed so you can make an informed decision before buying. If the price was clearly shown, you generally cannot claim compensation just because another seller charged less.

No. If a product or one of its parts is replaced during the guarantee period, the original guarantee does not restart. The original guarantee period continues to apply. Once that period ends, you are no longer entitled to a free remedy if the replacement part becomes faulty.

Yes. Products bought by consumers are automatically covered by a 2-year legal guarantee. This applies even if the seller does not give you a written guarantee. You only need proof of purchase. This legal guarantee gives you the right to a free remedy if the product is faulty or does not match the contract. A seller may also offer a commercial guarantee, but this can never reduce your legal rights. Even if a commercial guarantee is shorter than 2 years, the legal guarantee still applies.

Yes, if the seller fails to deliver the goods by the agreed date, you may cancel the order and ask for a full refund of any deposit or payments made. You may also be able to claim compensation for extra costs caused by the delay.

If the software was bought for use in a business, this is a business-to-business transaction and it is not covered by the Consumer Affairs Act. The Office for Consumer Affairs cannot intervene. You may wish to seek legal advice about your contractual rights and possible remedies.

In general, airlines are only legally required to offer a free rebooking or refund when the airline cancels the flight, the delay is more than five hours, or the disruption is caused by circumstances covered by passenger rights rules. If none of these apply, the airline does not have to offer a free change or refund. Any promotion allowing free changes is voluntary, and the airline may set its own conditions for it.

If your flight is delayed by more than five hours, the airline must give you a choice between: a full refund of the unused ticket and if relevant a return flight to your original departure point, or re-routing to your final destination under comparable conditions. If the airline does not offer a suitable alternative and you are left with an unused ticket, you may claim a refund. You should first complain to the airline. If the issue is not resolved, you may file a complaint with MCCAA through the air passenger rights channel.

You may be entitled to compensation of €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance, unless the airline can prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances. If the airline rejects your claim and you believe the refusal is unjustified, you may submit a complaint to MCCAA so the case can be assessed.

The seller is responsible. Your contract is with the trader who sold you the product, so that trader must provide the remedy required by law. If the seller has problems with the supplier or agent, that is a separate matter between them. You should first complain to the seller in writing and request a repair or replacement. If that is not possible, you may ask for a refund. If the seller refuses, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

Yes, in most cases. If you buy goods online, by phone, or through another distance-selling method, you usually have 14 days from delivery to cancel the contract without giving a reason. If you cancel within that period, you are entitled to a full refund. The seller may require you to pay the return cost, but only if you were informed of this before the sale.

If you cancel a distance purchase within the 14-day cooling-off period, you are entitled to a refund, not just a credit note. If the seller refuses to refund you, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

If a product keeps developing the same or a similar fault, and repair or replacement no longer offers a satisfactory solution, you may ask to cancel the contract and receive a full refund, provided the problem is due to poor quality and not misuse. It is best to make your request in writing. If you cannot reach an agreement with the seller, you may file a complaint.

No. If the product cannot be repaired or replaced, you may ask for a full refund. You are not obliged to accept a different model, especially if it does not meet your needs or if you are being asked to pay more.

If you buy a second-hand car from a dealer, the purchase is covered by consumer law. This means you are entitled to a remedy if the car does not match what was promised, is not fit for its normal use, or does not meet the quality reasonably expected. However, normal wear and tear is not covered. Because used cars naturally show signs of use, it can sometimes be difficult to prove that a fault was hidden rather than due to age or use. It is wise to have the car checked by a trusted mechanic before buying and to ask whether the dealer is also offering a commercial guarantee.

If your luggage is delayed, the airline remains responsible for it and must take reasonable steps to trace and return it without unnecessary delay. If the bag is not returned within 21 days, it may be treated as lost, and you may then claim compensation for the loss, subject to the limits set by the Montreal Convention. You may also claim back reasonable and necessary expenses caused by the delay, as long as you keep your receipts. First try to resolve the matter with the airline. If that does not work, you may file a complaint with MCCAA.

No. Any conditions about using a voucher, including an expiry date, must be clearly communicated at the time of purchase and written on the voucher itself. If the voucher did not state that it had to be used within one month, that condition cannot normally be enforced against you. You should contact the spa in writing and ask to use the voucher. If the spa refuses, you may file a formal complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

No. You do not necessarily need the original receipt, as long as you can provide proof of purchase. A bank statement and purchase details may be enough. If the product is still within the 2-year legal guarantee and the fault was not caused by misuse, the seller must provide a free remedy. If the seller refuses because you do not have the original receipt, you may file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.

It depends on who sold it to you. If you bought it from a trader, you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period. If you bought it from a private individual, consumer law does not apply and you do not have this right. Online platforms must tell you before the sale whether the seller is a trader or a private individual.

No. Sellers cannot advertise false or misleading discounts. When showing a reduced price, the reference price must be the lowest price at which the product was sold during the 30 days before the reduction. If the product has been on sale for less than 30 days, the reference price must be the lowest price used during that shorter period.

Yes, personalised pricing is not illegal. However, if a trader uses automated decision-making or profiling to show you a personalised price, you must be clearly informed of this. This allows you to understand that the price shown may be influenced by your online behaviour.

No. Traders are not allowed to post fake reviews or fake endorsements. If a business displays reviews, it must take reasonable steps to ensure that they come from real customers who actually bought or used the product or service.

No. Consumer law prohibits traders from reselling event tickets that were bought using bots. This rule is meant to protect consumers from unfair ticket shortages and inflated prices.

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