Baby buggy problems and what you can do about it

Consumer Direct is urging parents buying pushchairs to be aware of their consumer rights when buying baby transportation as figures show a rise in the number of complaints.

In a three month period, the government-funded advice service Consumer Direct received a massive 1219 complaints about Baby buggies, prams and pushchairs.

Some of these were customer service problems, but nearly half of these complaints were about pricey problem products costing a whopping £300 or more.  These problems were products which were already faulty on arrival, or developed faults on first use.

The number of complaints received was an increase of 67 per cent on last year’s figures.

So what can you do about a problem pushchair?

All pushchairs that are purchased from the high street or the internet must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and match their description. If they do not, shoppers may be able to claim a repair, replacement or a full or partial refund.

Operations Manager for Consumer Direct, Michele Shambrook said: ‘Pushchairs can be a big outlay at an expensive time for parents so if things go wrong, it’s worth remembering you’ve got rights. If an item is inherently faulty, it’s down to the retailer to put it right by offering you a refund, repair or a replacement.’

Consumer Direct has the following tips for  people buying buggies and pushchairs:

Make sure you check the product as soon as you get it home. If you notice a fault, stop using it. If you return it to the retailer straight away, you should be able to ‘reject’ it and claim a full refund.

If you have had some use out of the product before the fault becomes apparent you may lose your right to a full refund, but you could be entitled to a repair, like for like replacement or partial refund.

Under remedies introduced in 2003, if a fault occurs within the first six months after purchase, it’s up to the trader to prove that the fault was not present at the time of sale.

Any term requiring consumers to inspect the goods on delivery and inform the trader immediately of any faults or else lose the right to a refund or rejection, may potentially be an unfair term and therefore unenforceable.

When buying a product costing more than £100 and under £30,000, using a credit card will give you extra protection if things go wrong.

Keep your receipt as proof of purchase as this could help you when making a claim.

Anyone unclear about their rights or unsure how to make a claim can call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk