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Please note this content, including banners, are unapproved drafts. For layout visualisation purposes only!<\/strong><\/p>\n Thinking of bagging a bargain this Black Friday? You\u2019re not alone. This year, 36% of Irish consumers plan on hitting the shops over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend (29 November to 2 December), according to our research. That figure rises to 57% in the under 25s.<\/p>\n Sales are always tempting, and when an attractive price cut is for one day only, it can be too much to resist. But is that discount all that it seems? And what rights to do you have if something goes wrong?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you use credit to make the purchase, it\u2019s a good idea to factor in that extra cost when deciding to buy. It\u2019s always important to keep an eye on the debt you are taking on.<\/p>\n It only takes a few minutes to understand your consumer rights when buying in the sales, and our useful tips on managing your spending and credit will help you make better decisions, even in the heat of the moment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, Christmas is just around the corner Enjoy the early sales, but shop smart and use your money wisely.<\/p>\n Businesses must be honest and not mislead you into thinking you are getting a better deal than you really are.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When selling to you in the Black Friday sales, a business cannot:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Businesses must set their Black Friday campaign discounts based on the <\/span>lowest price a product was on sale for during the previous 30 days<\/span><\/b>. All goods on sale must now show this prior price.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, if you see an item marked \u2018was \u20ac500 \u2013 now \u20ac250\u2019, it must have been priced at \u20ac500, at the very lowest, in the 30 day period before the price reduction. It is against the law for shops to give a misleading previous price.<\/p>\n Learn more about pricing rules<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you buy something in the Black Friday sales at a reduced price, you have the same rights and protections as if you bought it at full price.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Read more about your rights if you buy <\/span>goods<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>services<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>digital content\/services<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you buy a <\/span>faulty item<\/span><\/a>, your first step is always to contact the business. If the fault occurs within 30 days, you can cancel the purchase and get a full refund. The refund must be the actual price you paid. If you no longer have your receipt but paid for the item with your card, a card statement will do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can agree to a replacement or a repair instead if you prefer. If more than 30 days has passed since you made the purchase, you can still insist on a refund if the fault is serious. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you buy in store, you have no right to a refund if you change your mind. But if you buy online, you can change your mind and get a refund within 14 days of receiving the item.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shop notices that say \u201cno refunds\u201d or \u201cno exchanges\u201d do not change your consumer rights for faulty goods.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your consumer rights are independent of any warranty or guarantee. If something is faulty or not as advertised, your rights to a repair, replacement or refund are strongest in the first year after purchase. You still have rights after the first year.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Almost a third of consumers plan to borrow to pay for Christmas. Credit can feel like a lifeline when you don\u2019t have the money to hand to meet these big expenses.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, easy access to credit options like Buy Now, Pay Later or credit cards can tip people over their spending limits. It is important to have a budget plan to help you cope with the increased demands of the festive season. Let\u2019s look at how you can do this effectively.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s still plenty of time to plan for Christmas. Look at your day-to-day spending and see what you can afford to spend over the coming weeks. We have a useful <\/span>budget planner<\/span><\/a> to help you do this.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You just need to fill in the amount you have coming in, and the budget planner will let you break down your spending into the main costs. You can then see how much you are expecting to spend and compare this to your income. This will help you control your spending better on a tight budget.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why not start putting money aside immediately? Use our <\/span>spending calculator<\/span><\/a> to see what you are spending and what you could save by cutting back.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you find yourself needing to use credit, it is important you understand the full cost and what exactly you are signing up to. Buy now, Pay Later is a credit arrangement that allows you to buy goods or services now and pay for them later. It is a quick way to pay for things and allows you to spread the cost over months or years.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Buy Now Pay Later is a loan, although some BNPL providers might offer an interest free period. Often, BNPL use a higher interest rates than those offered by banks or building societies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Always read the terms and conditions before you enter any BNPL agreement. You may end up having to pay fees and charges if you are late or miss a payment. If you miss payments on any loan over \u20ac500, it can affect your <\/span>credit history<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/span>Find out more about BNPL<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is best to use savings to pay for Christmas expenses if you can. If you do need to borrow, work out how much you need. For example, if you are going to spend \u20ac1000, a personal loan may be your best option. Use our loan comparison rates<\/a> to get the best rates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Credit cards tend to be\u00a0 one of the most expensive forms of credit and should be avoided if possible. January is a tough month financially. The post-Christmas credit card bill can make for worrying reading. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t take long for credit card debt to stack up, unless you can pay the balance in full at the end of each month. The higher the interest rate you pay, the more it costs you. Find out what your current rate is on your bill. Our <\/span>credit card Money Tool<\/span><\/a> compares the different rates on offer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You may be able to switch your credit card provider and transfer your balance to a lower interest rate. This will give you space to pay down the balance. It is best to use savings to pay for Christmas expenses if you can.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A personal loan of \u20ac1000 from any provider on our Money Tool would be cheaper than even the cheapest credit card currently available if you are repaying it off over a period. Compare the cost of credit with different loan options using our <\/span>personal loans Money Tool<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nSales prices<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Same consumer rights during the sales<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
If something goes wrong<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nTop Tip<\/h3>\n
Choose credit carefully<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Use our budgeting tools<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Buy Now, Pay Later<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nTop Tip<\/h3>\n
Credit card spending<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nDid you know?<\/h3>\n