Q: Last Christmas, I received a handbag as a gift. Three months later, one of its handles got detached. I went to the shop it was bought it from, explained what happened and told them I did not expect to tear so easily after only three months. The salesperson called her superior and told me to fill a complaint form and leave the bag to have it checked. I was then told that they would try and repair it but if it wasn’t possible, they could not offer me another solution.

A: If the handbag was not damaged through misuse, then the seller is legally obliged to provide you with a free solution. This means that if the handbag’s handle cannot be fixed, the seller must either offer you a replacement or if this is not possible, you should be given a refund.

Should you not manage to resolve the matter in an amicable way, you may proceed with filing a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs.