Woodkirk Stone
Q I ordered a new smartphone as a Christmas present for my husband from an online retailer. The courier company contacted me the other day to tell me that I had to pay a customs fee of € 100 before delivering the smartphone to me. I bought it from a dot.ie website so not sure why I have to pay tax or extra fees. Is the courier company allowed to do this? Melissa, County Louth
A Due to Brexit, goods purchased online from the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) are now subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) and other charges. This would explain why you are charged additional fees. Also be aware that with Brexit, consumers’ rights are changed when they buy from businesses in the UK, which may impact the options you currently have.
When shopping online, the first and most important step is to check where the business is based before you buy. What is essential – even if the site has an ie (.ie) or even eu (.eu) domain, as this does not guarantee where a business is based. You can usually find the company’s registered address in the terms and conditions section of its website.
If the company you purchased from is based in the EU, it is likely that they are shipping their products from the UK or some other country outside the EU, which is why you have been told that ‘there were additional costs. The good news is that you have rights and options since you bought from an EU company. You should have been informed of the additional costs before purchasing. If you are not satisfied with paying them, you can refuse to pay the charge and the item will then be returned to sender. Under EU consumer protection law, you have a 14-day cooling-off period. Therefore, as soon as you refuse to pay the additional charges, you should immediately email the company you purchased from and tell them that you are canceling your order and requesting a full refund.
If the company you bought from is based outside the EU, you should still have been made aware of these charges, but it may be difficult for you to assert your rights. However, you can refuse to pay. Your first step should be to contact the company directly to let them know that you have not been informed of the additional charges and that you wish to cancel your order and demand a refund. If you are returning the goods and the company is unable to issue a refund, you may consider contacting your payment provider about a chargeback option on your credit or debit card. More details about your right of withdrawal can be found at ccpc.ie or by calling the CCPC consumer helpline on 014025555.
Right to a refund of a defective laptop purchased on sale
Q I recently bought a new laptop online which was for sale from a company based in Ireland. A week after arriving, it started to freeze and eventually crashed and died out. I haven’t been able to restart it since. I contacted the company I bought it from, but they told me that because I bought it on sale, I am not entitled to return it or be refunded. Instead, he suggested that I contact the manufacturer to have it fixed. Am I not entitled to a refund since the laptop is defective? Joe, County Westmeath
A When you buy goods, your contract is with the retailer or the company that sold you the item, so if there is a defect, it is their responsibility to fix it. – not the manufacturer. This applies to all items, whether you bought them at full price or on sale. Either way, you need to act quickly. You can request a refund, repair, replacement, or price reduction as a solution. However, the law doesn’t spell out exactly what you’re entitled to when you return a defective item, so it’s up to you to negotiate with the company and agree on the best option for you.
However, if the fault is a major fault, that is, when the item does not perform as it is supposed to (for example, when your laptop has completely stopped working) and occurs within six first few months, it is assumed that the defect was there. at the time you bought the laptop. In this case, you have the option of refusing the goods, terminating the contract and receiving a full refund.
If you purchased the laptop more than six months ago, you still have the right to have the faulty items issue addressed by the company you purchased it from. The law does not specify a specific deadline for returning a defective item. – However, the result will depend on how long the item was used and also how long it took you to return it. Therefore, get it back as soon as you can and negotiate either a refund, replacement, or repair.
Note that when the items have a defect which is not due to wear, misuse or accidental damage, you should not have to pay the cost of repairing, replacing or returning the product.
If you are unable to resolve the issue with the business, you have the option of filing a claim against the business through small claims proceedings. The application fee is € 25 and you can use it for complaints worth up to € 2,000. Another option, if you paid by debit or credit card, is to ask your bank to reverse the transaction (called a chargeback). However, you must first prove that you tried to resolve the issue directly with the company.
Choosing the best way to finance a Christmas madness
Q I plan to splurge on my Christmas spending this year to make up for the very quiet Christmas that my family and I had last year. I have managed to save quite a bit over the past 18 months – but I don’t want to spend it all on Christmas alone. Would I be better off taking a small loan and managing my repayments over the next year? – or would it be better to finance my Christmas with some savings and use my credit card to cover the rest? Anne, County Kildare
A The answer to your question depends on your financial situation – to help you make that decision, here are the pros and cons of both.
The first step is to create a budget. This will help you determine how much you intend to spend on gifts, decorations, etc. – and how much you have to cover those expenses. Writing down what you plan to spend will help you stay on budget and not overspend.
When you have an overall idea of ​​how much you plan to spend, do your research to find out what financing options you have and, most importantly, how much it would cost you if you were to go that route. If possible, limit the amount you borrow, as debt is often expensive. This is especially important when it comes to your credit card, as interest rates tend to be high. The interest rate is basically the cost of borrowing – so look for the lowest rate offered to help limit your future debt. When you plan to use credit to buy property, make sure you have the financial capacity to pay off that debt and other debts you may have.
If you have enough savings to cover your Christmas expenses, the main consideration you will need to make is whether you will have any savings left afterwards. We always encourage consumers to consider having a little nest egg for unforeseen costs.