Brussels' plans would seriously affect UK consumer rights to reject faulty goods and get a refund
The UK Government will fight proposals by the European Commission’s to weaken certain rights that are currently enjoyed by UK consumers.
Under the planned EU Consumer Rights Directive, the right to reject faulty goods currently given to people in the UK would be taken away; allowing retailers to choose to repair or replace goods instead.
The Government ran a consultation process to find out what the views of industry and consumers were about the proposed changes. It has now published its views and said it wants to fight for UK consumers' refund rights.
It is also creating a new Consumer Rights Bill which it said goes further in giving consumers protection than the proposed EU directive will.
In a statement the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) formerly the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) said: “We remain concerned that the Commission’s proposal on consumer remedies for faulty goods would result in a significant reduction in consumer protection.
"We will continue to work to secure an amendment to the directive to allow the 'right to reject' to be retained in the UK."
This position was backed up by the House of Lords, which said it should not support a directive that erodes UK consumers’ rights.
The EU directive which has also concerned Consumer Focus, is an attempt to 'fully harmonise' consumer rights across member states. All countries would have to adopt its provisions and ensure that its own laws did not conflict with it.
This would mean rights given under laws such as the UK Sale of Goods Act which allows people to reject faulty goods within a reasonable time and get a full refund if they wish would have to be scrapped.
The consumer watchdog told Computeractive earlier in the year that this proposition would not be acceptable and it would lobby against any such move. The Government said was 'optimistic' about changing the Commission's mind about its proposed new EU law the Consumer Rights Directive.
