Q: Less than a month ago I purchased an evening dress from a local shop that specialises in occasion wear. The cost of the dress was €255. It is made of lace with two layers of satin underneath the lace.

I wore the dress for the first time two weeks after the date of purchase for a family wedding. After the wedding Mass, I noticed that the satin material had a split of around 15cm across the seams. It was obvious that the material wasn’t sturdy enough when sitting down, as it split across the stitched part.

I returned the dress to the shop from where I bought it and the salesperson offered to mend it. She also said that the dress might have torn due to the heat and the sweating.

I would like to know what my rights are in this situation? Do I have to pay for the alterations or am I entitled to have the dress mended for free?

A: If the evening dress tore because its material was defective or because it wasn’t sewn properly and not because you accidentally damaged it or the dress was too tight for you, then yes you may ask the seller to mend it at no extra cost.

If the dress cannot be mended or after it is repaired the same problem recurs when you wear it, then you may ask the seller to replace it.

If a replacement with a similar dress is not possible, then you may opt to cancel the sale and request a refund.

Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Office for Consumer Affairs
Mizzi House,
National Road,
Blata l-Bajda
HMR 9010

Freephone: 8007 4400
Tel: 2395 2000
Enquiries: info@mccaa.org.mt
Consumer complaints: fair.trading@mccaa.org.mt
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European Consumer Centre Malta
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VLT 1101

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Tel: 2122 1901
E-mail: ecc.malta@gov.mt