Buying services - your rights

(for all nations)

Enter your postcode in the field at the bottom of this page to see if your local authority trading standards department has the full leaflet version available on its website. 

The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 states that when work is carried out by a trader you can expect it to be done with reasonable care and skill, in a reasonable time for a reasonable charge.

The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 allow you to challenge terms that may be unfair or unreasonable and/or restrict your statutory rights. When you enter into an agreement for work to be done that costs over £35 you are entitled to a minimum seven-day cooling-off period to be notified in writing. When you find that work carried out is unsatisfactory, or takes too long to complete, you may be able to claim compensation.

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