An important responsibility consumers have is that of ensuring that they are provided with a proof of purchase for each and every good or service they pay for.
Such proof can either be the fiscal receipt or any other document that provides evidence of when and from where a product or service was purchased.
Consumers are in fact responsible to keep all documents related to the purchase made, such as for instance the contract of sale, the commercial guarantee and evidence of any other information provided by the seller before the sale was concluded.
Instruction booklets and manuals should also be kept for future reference and special attention should be given to any specific warnings and other information on how to operate a product safely.
Consumers should not forget that they may forfeit their right for redress if they do not use products according to the instructions provided by the seller or manufacturer.
Angry behaviour while complaining should be avoided
To ensure that they get the best value for the money spent, consumers should shop around, compare prices and gather as much information as possible before concluding a sale.
Furthermore, if a specific agreement is made with the seller, this should be written on the contract of sale just in case there is a dispute over the goods or services purchased. When consumers are requested to sign a sales contract, before doing so, they must read and understand the terms and conditions they are signing for.
Once signed a sales agreement must be honoured unless the conditions of sale are unfair and diminish consumers’ legal rights.
Consumers should also remember that they are responsible of the choices they make and must be sure about their purchases as legally they do not have the right to request a remedy if they change their mind.
When such situations arise, shops are free to apply their own return policies which consumers have to adhere to.
Checking goods for any visible defects is another responsibility consumers have if they want to avoid problems.
Apparent defects that may have been caused through misuse by consumers and which are undetected during purchase may not be covered by law.
Even faults that were pointed out by the seller before the purchase are not covered.
Consumers who need to purchase goods that have a specific function have the responsibility to communicate their needs to the seller. When applicable any specific agreements with sellers should be made in writing. If problems crop up, consumers must immediately notify the seller about the fault and request a remedy.
Angry behaviour while complaining should be avoided as it normally only makes things worse for the consumer.
In addition, requests for redress should be reasonable and according to what the law grants.