Consumer rights in the UK have shifted quietly, and most people haven’t noticed. The big change is that the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act is now fully in force. That means fake reviews are illegal, and subscription traps are finally being cracked down on. If a company auto-renews your contract without a clear reminder, they’re breaking the law. You can also cancel most subscriptions with a few clicks, not a phone call to a call centre that puts you on hold for an hour.

The other area that’s worth your attention is the 30-day repair rule. If something you buy is faulty, the retailer has to offer a repair or replacement within 30 days. They can’t fob you off with a refund you didn’t ask for, or force you to deal with the manufacturer. That’s between you and the seller, full stop. Keep your receipt, even the email one, and you’re covered.

One thing that trips people up is the difference between a guarantee and your statutory rights. A guarantee is extra, but your statutory rights don’t expire after a year. For most goods, you have up to six years to claim if the item wasn’t of satisfactory quality. That’s longer than most people think, and it applies to second-hand goods bought from a business too.

The practical bit: take photos of faults, keep a timeline of your complaints, and write to the retailer in writing. That paper trail is what makes a claim stick. If they refuse, you can go to the ombudsman, and that’s free. Most firms fold before it gets that far, because the law is on your side now.

Paul