What are my rights when I buy furniture?
Whether it is a chest of drawers or a settee, the same law applies to furniture that you buy from a trader:
It must be
·
as described by the seller
·
be of satisfactory quality
·
and “fit for [the intended or agreed] purpose”.
By ‘satisfactory quality’ it means that the furniture must be safe, durable, free from minor defects and of reasonable appearance and finish.
The price you pay will also help determine whether this standard has been reached. It is what a “reasonable” person would expect to receive. It must be remembered though that some products are made from natural products and therefore may be demonstrating characteristics of that product and not defects.
Further advice and information can be found on the Citizens Advice website.
Does it make any difference if I didn’t get to view the furniture before I bought it?
If you have purchased furniture “by distance” such as over the internet, you may have additional rights. Our Shopping online page will give you more information.
What if I bought the furniture on finance?
A finance agreement can affect who you need to claim against in the case of an issue. More information about this can be found on the Citizens Advice website.
What if I have a warranty or guarantee?
Your rights described above are seperate from any claim you might have under a warranty. What you are entitled to under a warranty depends entirely on its terms. For more information about warranties and guarantees visit the Citizens Advice website.
How can I resolve my furniture issue?
If you are in dispute and you have established that you have legal rights, we suggest you write a letter of complaint to the trader. If that fails to resolve things, you may complain to the independent Furniture Ombudsman.
Alternatively, if you paid for some or all of the furniture on a credit card, and the price was over £100, you may have a claim against your credit card company. See our pages on Protection on your credit card to read more.
Or you can visit our pages on Resolving a dispute with a trader to find out about bringing a Small Claims Court action, although if you go to the Ombudsman, it may mean you can’t go to Court if you are unhappy with the outcome.
Where can I go for further advice?
Our partner organisation, The Citizens Advice Consumer Service can provide you with further advice on 0845 4040506.