Martin Lewis shares Christmas advice to ensure you aren't ripped off

Martin Lewis has issued some vital advice for consumers to ensure they don't lose out when buying presents this Christmas.

The broadcaster and consumer champion has reminded the public of their rights when returning faulty goods.

Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, published a mnemonic (a pattern of letters to help people remember something) to help customers when making purchases this festive season.

The SAD FART memory aid was created by Lewis 20 years ago, but he reminded consumers about it on Sunday ahead of Christmas.

He tweeted: "This Christmas, be a SAD FART to ensure your festive purchases are protected.

"If items are faulty, that trumps everything else. So what counts as faulty?

"Years ago I came up with my SAD FART mnemonic to make it easy to remember it."

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The SAD FART advice applies to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

When someone buys an item, it must be Satisfactory quality As Described (SAD) and Fit for purpose And last a Reasonable length of Time (FART).

The Money Saving Expert website states: "This should be taught at school – everyone should know their basic statutory rights.

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"Know these and you can enforce fair treatment when goods are faulty.

"It's so crucial, you should actually memorise it. Our mnemonic is to call them your SAD FART rights."

Under the Consumer Rights Act, all products, whether physical or digital, must meet those standards.

According to Which? Magazine, customers can claim a full refund within 30 days for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described.

The 30-day right to a refund doesn't apply to products you've bought as downloads, Which? says, including music, games or apps.

However, consumers can ask for a digital product to be repaired or replaced if it develops a fault. If this isn't possible, the purchaser has the right to a price reduction - which could be the full amount paid.

Meanwhile, retailers are expecting a quiet build-up to Christmas as Britons grapple with the current cost of living crisis.

Analysts Springboard said the rise in shoppers footfall between November and December would be “more subdued than in previous years” – by 4.5% on high streets, 5% in retail parks, and 10% in shopping centres.

British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Despite facing huge cost pressures, retailers are doing all they can to keep prices affordable for all their customers.

“But the cost of living crisis means many families might dial back their festive plans.”

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said retailers would be hoping that consumers continued to focus on the “Christmas feel-good factor”.

He said: “Retailers are well aware that in the current environment it is a battle to attract and retain every customer."