Mansfield and Ashfield shoppers urged to shop wisely this Christmas

Black Friday (27th November) is expected to see UK shoppers spend £5billion on Christmas gifts in one day and around £1.7billion is expected to be spent online on Cyber Monday (1st December).

The team says local high street shoppers should purchase their goods from reputable retailers to avoid buying counterfeit goods and increase their chances of receiving a refund or exchange after Christmas if needed.

People should be wary if products are too cheap as there is normally a good reason as they are likely to be counterfeit.

Counterfeit alcohol can contain dangerous chemicals and cheap electrical items may not meet current safety standards.

Shoppers buying gifts for a loved one on the high street or online are recommended to request a gift receipt to enable the receiver to ask for an exchange and use a credit card for presents worth over £100 for extra rights if there is a problem.

People purchasing gifts online are advised to buy from secure sites that display a closed padlock to ensure their financial information is protected.

Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle from the County Council’s Community Safety Committee said: “As the mad rush to buy Christmas presents begin, people need to bear in mind that their gifts may not be right for their loved one so it’s more likely that they need to seek a refund than at any other time of year.

“There is no legal requirement for shops to exchange gifts or give a refund so it’s worth checking with the shop before making the purchase.

“The internet is increasingly being used to buy presents to avoid busy shopping centres, but we advise people to use reputable sites to avoid being the victim of an online scam.”

For consumer advice or to report a consumer problem to Trading Standards, call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.