Life-Ready Society · Teacher and parent pack · Financial dimension

Contracts, Purchases and Your Rights

Read before you sign, return faulty goods and cancel subscriptions.

8 lessons, about 1.6 hours of reading. Free lessons, videos and full sources: https://lifereadysociety.com/consumer-rights/

How to use this pack. Ask your teen or class to read one lesson online (about ten minutes), talk through the key points together, choose one practice task to try this week, then use the quiz to check what stuck. The answer key is on the last page. Free to print for home and classroom use.

The lessons at a glance

1. Reading a contract before you sign

A phone plan, a gym membership, a tenancy, a laptop on monthly payments: once you live on your own, you will sign more contracts in a year than in your whole life so far. Ten calm minutes with the small print before you sign can save you months of payments you did not expect.

Key points

Agreeing online or out loud can still create a binding contract.
Calculate the total cost, not the monthly price.
Check the term, renewal, notice period and cancellation method before signing.
The UK gives 14 days to cancel most services bought online or by phone; do not assume the same elsewhere.
Ask for promises in writing and keep a copy of everything.

2. Buying big items wisely: warranties, extended warranties and refurbished

A laptop, phone or bed is one of the biggest purchases you will make as a student. Knowing what protection you already have, and what is worth paying extra for, stops you being talked into cover you do not need.

Key points

Your legal rights apply whether or not you buy a warranty.
Extended warranties are poor value if they do not add real cover.
Divide the cost by the years to see the yearly price.
If it is not listed, assume it is not covered.
Refurbished can be great value: check the grade, warranty and returns policy.

3. Your rights when you shop online

Online shopping gives you rights that you do not get in a physical shop, but only in some countries and only from businesses, not private sellers. Knowing which rules apply before you click 'buy' makes returns much easier.

Key points

In UK shops, change-of-mind refunds are a store policy, not a right.
UK online purchases from businesses: 14 days to cancel from the day after delivery, then 14 days to return.
Refund within 14 days of the seller getting the item or proof of postage.
Private sellers, personalised and perishable items are exceptions.
UAE protection covers UAE-registered platforms; check each seller's returns policy.

4. Faulty goods: refund, repair or replace

Your new headphones stop working after three weeks, or your kettle leaks on day one. Knowing your rights, and asking in the right way, usually gets the problem fixed quickly and politely.

Key points

Satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, as described.
UK: full refund within 30 days; then one repair or replacement first.
Faults within 6 months are presumed to have been there from the start.
Go to the seller, with proof of purchase and a clear description.
UAE suppliers must repair or replace defective products free of charge.

5. Subscriptions and free trials: staying in control

Streaming, music, cloud storage, food boxes, language apps: subscriptions are designed to be easy to start and easy to forget. This lesson goes beyond the basics in Money Basics and shows you how to audit, cancel and dispute them.

Key points

Expect to be charged after a free trial unless you cancel.
Calendar the end date before you finish signing up.
Deleting an app does not cancel a subscription.
Keep proof of cancellation and check your next statement.
Charged after cancelling? Ask the company, then dispute with your card provider.

6. Complaining effectively and escalating

Most problems with a business are solved with one clear, polite message. When they are not, there is a well-worn path of escalation, and knowing it gives you confidence. (For phone and email skills in general, see the Getting Things Done module; this lesson focuses on your rights and the escalation route.)

Key points

Complain to the seller first, in writing, and keep a copy.
Say what went wrong, what you want and by when.
Ask for a final response before escalating.
Ombudsmen are free and independent; usually after 8 weeks or a deadlock.
In the UAE, escalate to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism or your emirate's economic department.

7. Deliveries, missing parcels and returns

Online orders, food boxes and furniture deliveries are part of student life, and so are 'delivered' parcels you never received. Here is who is responsible, what to do, and how to return things without losing money.

Key points

The seller is responsible until the item reaches you (UK).
Agreeing to a safe place can shift the risk to you.
If no date is agreed, delivery should usually be within 30 days.
Delivery firms do not ask for payment by text link.
Keep proof of postage until every refund arrives.

8. Second-hand marketplaces: checking before you pay

Buying a used desk, bike or phone can save a lot of money and is better for the planet. But buying from a private person gives you fewer rights, so the checks you do before you hand over money matter most. (The Scams and Fraud module covers fake sellers and payment tricks; this lesson focuses on your rights and inspecting the item.)

Key points

Private sales have fewer rights, so inspection matters most.
No 14-day cooling-off period from private sellers (UK).
Test everything and check the device is reset and unlocked.
Suspect stolen goods? Contact the police, do not keep it.
Pay on handover and keep every record.

Talk about it, then try it

The real-life practice tasks from each lesson. Pick one or two a week and agree when you will check in.

Reading a contract before you sign
- Find one contract you or your family already have (a phone plan, gym or streaming service) and locate the minimum term, the renewal rule and the cancellation method.
- Use the 10-point checklist to calculate the true total cost of one membership or plan you are considering.
- Practise the 'I don't sign on the same day' script out loud so it feels natural.
Buying big items wisely: warranties, extended warranties and refurbished
- Choose one item you may need for university (laptop, phone, desk chair) and compare its price in three places, including total delivery cost.
- Find the warranty terms for a device you already own and note how long it lasts and how to claim.
- Next time you are offered an extended warranty, ask for the leaflet, calculate the yearly cost and list three things it does not cover before deciding.
Your rights when you shop online
- Pick an online shop you use and find its returns page: note how many days you get, who pays return postage and any exceptions.
- Write a short cancellation email template you could reuse: order number, item, date received, 'I am cancelling this order under my 14-day cancellation right', and how you want the refund.
- Check whether the last thing you bought online came from a seller registered in your country or abroad.
Faulty goods: refund, repair or replace
- Find the receipt or order email for the most expensive thing you bought this year and save it in a 'Purchases' folder.
- Write a three-sentence 'faulty item' script for a real item you own: what, when bought, what is wrong, what you want.
- Open the Citizens Advice template letters page and read the faulty goods letter so you know its structure.
Subscriptions and free trials: staying in control
- Do a subscription audit this week: list every repeating payment from your last two statements and total the yearly cost.
- Cancel or downgrade at least one subscription you have not used in the last month and keep the confirmation.
- Next time you start a free trial, set a calendar reminder two days before it ends before you finish signing up.
Complaining effectively and escalating
- Draft a complaint email for a real or recent problem (or an imaginary one) using the structure in Step 2, and ask someone to read it for tone.
- Save Citizens Advice's template letters page and the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism number (800 1222) in your phone notes.
- Find the complaints page on the website of your phone or internet provider and note its steps.
Deliveries, missing parcels and returns
- Check your delivery settings in the shopping apps you use and decide whether 'leave in a safe place' is wise where you live.
- Create an 'Open returns' note in your phone with columns for item, date sent, tracking number and refund received.
- Find the non-delivery template letter on Citizens Advice and save it.
Second-hand marketplaces: checking before you pay
- Before your next second-hand purchase, write a 5-item inspection list for that exact item and take it with you.
- Look at three listings for the same used item and work out a fair price range, so you can spot one that is suspiciously cheap.
- Practise the polite walk-away line: 'Thanks for your time, but it's not quite right for me.'

Quiz

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________ Circle one answer for each question.

1. According to Citizens Advice, what usually happens if you want to end a gym contract early just because you changed your mind?

The contract ends by itself after a 14-day cooling-off period
The gym must refund everything you have paid so far
You normally have to pay the full cost of the contract
You only pay for the months you have already used

2. In England, how long is the cooling-off period for a service you arrange online or by phone?

14 days
There is none
30 days
3 days

3. What does Citizens Advice say about the relationship between warranties and your legal rights?

Warranties replace your legal rights
You only have rights if you buy a warranty
Your legal rights end when the warranty starts
Warranties add to your legal rights

4. According to the FTC, when is an extended warranty not good value?

When you buy it on the same day as the product itself, at the till
When it offers no more cover than the product's original warranty
When you pay for the whole plan in one go instead of monthly
When it lasts longer than the product's original warranty

5. When does the UK 14-day cooling-off period for goods bought online start?

30 days after delivery
The day the seller dispatches your order
The day you place the order
The day after you receive your order

6. In the UK, do you have a legal right to a refund in a physical shop if the item is fine and you simply changed your mind?

Yes, as long as you keep the receipt and tags
Yes, the law gives you 14 days to return it
No, it depends on the shop's own policy
Yes, but only as store credit, not as cash

7. In the UK, what can you claim if goods are faulty within the first 30 days?

Only store credit
Nothing until 6 months have passed
A full refund
Only a repair

8. Your UK laptop develops a fault after 2 months. What normally happens first?

You can demand a full refund straight away, no questions
You have no rights left because 30 days have passed
You must take it to the manufacturer, not the retailer
The retailer gets one chance to repair or replace it

9. According to Apple, when should you cancel a trial subscription if you do not want it to renew?

Within 24 hours after the first charge
Any time before the first paid month ends
On the trial's last day, as late as possible
At least 24 hours before the trial ends

10. What does the FTC advise if a company keeps charging you after you cancelled and will not refund you?

Post a public review and wait for them to respond
Delete the app so the payments stop by themselves
Dispute the charge with your card company
Keep paying until the company agrees to stop

11. According to Citizens Advice, what must you do before any other step in a dispute with a business?

Go straight to the small claims court
Make a formal complaint to the seller
Contact the relevant ombudsman directly
Post a detailed review online first

12. How long does a business usually have to resolve a complaint before you can go to an ombudsman in the UK?

8 weeks
48 hours
1 year
6 months

13. In the UK, who is responsible for making sure an item you ordered reaches you?

Royal Mail in all cases
You
Your neighbour
The seller

14. You told Royal Mail to leave your parcel in a safe place and it disappeared. What does Citizens Advice say?

The seller and Royal Mail aren't responsible
Royal Mail must compensate you for the full value
The seller must send a free replacement
The seller must still refund you in full

15. In the UK, do items bought from a private individual on a social media marketplace have a 14-day cooling-off period?

No
Yes, the same as with a business
Only for phones
Yes, if under £100

16. You realise a bike you bought second-hand may be stolen. What does Citizens Advice advise?

Sell it on quickly to get your money back
Keep it, as you did not know it was stolen
Return it to the seller yourself and ask for a refund
Contact the police or take it to a police station

Answer key

C: Citizens Advice: you'll normally have to pay the full cost of your contract if you want to cancel a gym membership early.
A: Citizens Advice: you get a 14-day cooling-off period for services arranged online, by phone or by mail order.
D: Citizens Advice: warranties and guarantees add to your legal rights.
B: FTC: an extended warranty is not a good value if it doesn't offer more coverage than the warranty that came with the product.
D: Citizens Advice: the cooling-off period starts the day after you receive your order.
C: Citizens Advice: you have no automatic legal right to a refund in a shop just because you changed your mind; returns are up to the shop.
C: Which?: from 0 to 30 days you can claim a full refund if goods fall short.
D: Which?: from 30 days to 6 months the retailer gets one chance to repair or replace before you can claim a refund.
D: Apple Support: cancel a trial subscription at least 24 hours before the trial ends if you don't want it to renew.
C: FTC: if the company won't refund you, dispute the charge (a chargeback) with your credit or debit card company right away.
B: Citizens Advice: you must follow step 1, a formal complaint to the seller, before you do anything else.
A: Citizens Advice: you can use an ombudsman if the organisation takes too long, usually 8 weeks.
D: Citizens Advice: it's the seller's responsibility to make sure the item is delivered to you.
A: Citizens Advice: if you told Royal Mail to leave it there, the seller and Royal Mail aren't responsible if it goes missing.
A: Citizens Advice: items bought from private individuals, such as on social media marketplaces, have no cooling-off period.
D: Citizens Advice: contact the police (101) or take the item to your local station; don't keep it or return it to the seller yourself.

General information only, written from the sources listed in each online lesson. Laws, numbers and services change, so check official sources. Life-Ready Society, https://lifereadysociety.com/consumer-rights/