As Black Friday deals flood online and in-store, our Trading Standards Service is warning consumers to stay alert to scams and counterfeit goods.
“Black Friday can bring genuine bargains, but it also attracts fraudsters,” said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, which oversees Trading Standards.
“Staying vigilant and following the advice from Trading Standards ensures a safer shopping experience this festive season.”
Top tips for safe shopping:
- Stick to trusted retailers and check independent reviews.
- Do your research. Look at prices before Black Friday to make sure you are getting the best deal. Be wary of any deals that seem too good to be true.
- Check the company/website is genuine.
- Check out and pay securely - check out ‘as a guest’ if you can and don’t allow the website to store your bank/card details. NEVER pay by direct bank transfer and use a credit card, if possible, especially for purchases over £100.
- Beware of counterfeit goods – if a deal looks suspiciously cheap, avoid it.
- Beware of delivery scams - if you receive a message or a phone call about a delivery, stop and think if the request is genuine. Did you order something from this company?
Know your rights:
- If you buy in-store, you can only return non-faulty goods for an exchange or refund if the retailer has a returns policy. Many shops do, but they're not required to by law.
- Buying online gives you more rights - you have 14 days from the date of delivery to cancel an order and a further 14 days to return it for a full refund.
“This is an expensive time of year, even with genuine sale offers, and it can be easy to overspend then struggle with debts in the new year,” said Councillor Barry McCulloch, Convener of the Finance Committee.
“Advice and support on managing your money is available from the council, both online and in person from our expert advisers, to ensure you are maximizing your income and reducing household costs where possible.”
Visit Managing your money | North Lanarkshire Council for more information.
If you think you’ve fallen foul to a scam or need consumer advice, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 08081646000 or www.advice.scot.