Your rights when buying services
- Introduction
- Before you buy
- What you can expect from the service
- If you are not happy with the service
- More information
Introduction
The Consumer Rights Act 2022 (pdf) introduces new rights when you buy services. This page explains these consumer rights. They only apply if you bought a service on or after 29 November 2022.
You have different rights if you bought on or before 28 November 2022.
What is a service?
Consumer law covers many contracts for services. Examples of services covered include entertainment, accommodation, transport, building works and maintenance contracts. Personal services (for example, wedding photography), pet care services, storage facilities and legal or other professional services are also covered.
If you have a contract for a service, consumer law sets out the minimum standards that apply and the remedies if the service falls short of these standards.
Before you buy
You have a legal right to certain information before you buy a service, including:
- The trader’s business name, address and phone number
- Details about the service (if not already clear)
- Total price, or how it will be calculated
- Length of the contract (if applicable)
- Any extra charges, for example, delivery charges
- Your right to cancel (where it applies)
The information must be clear, easy to understand and given to you before you buy. You have additional rights to information if you buy online or from your doorstep.
Traders must not make claims that would distort your buying decisions. A seller who makes a false or misleading claim about a service is committing an offence and can be prosecuted.
What you can expect from the service
If you have a contract for a service, consumer law sets out the minimum standards that apply to the service. Services must be in conformity with the contract you made. In conformity means the service is as you expect it would be according to the contract you made with the trader.
Services must:
- Work as the trader said they would
- Match any advertisement and any verbal or written information you got
- Meet the terms of the contract, where the service is supplied with goods or digital elements
The trader must:
- Provide the service in line with the contract
- Have the required skills to carry out the service
- Supply the service with reasonable care and attention
- Only use materials that are fit for purpose and match any descriptions you got
- Charge you a reasonable price, where the price is not agreed beforehand (for example, it was based on an estimate or quote)
- Comply with all applicable laws
If a trader tells you they will provide a higher standard of care and skill than can be reasonably expected, or if they are subject to a standard set by a professional body or a code of practice, they will be held to that higher standard.
Read more about your rights as a consumer.
If you are not happy with the service
If things go wrong with the service, it is always the trader who should put things right.
Under consumer law, the trader must resolve any issue, so the service meets what was agreed in the contract.
The seller must correct the issue for free, within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you. A reasonable time means the shortest possible time to fix the issue.
Get more information on what to do if you have problems with a service.
More information
If you have a dispute with an Irish-based service supplier, you can contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for advice and support.
Find out more about terms and conditions, unfair sales practices, advertising and pricing.
You can get more information from the CCPC about your rights when you buy a service.