Coronavirus pandemic: tell us your consumer concerns

Hi Alan – Here is official information:
“How can you get assistance with foods and medicines if you are shielding?
Ask family, friends and neighbours to support you and use online services. If this is not possible, then the public sector, business, charities and the general public are gearing up to help those advised to stay at home. Please discuss your daily needs during this period of staying at home with carers, family, friends, neighbours or local community groups to see how they can support you. Please visit gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable to register for the support that you need. This includes help with food, shopping deliveries and additional care you might need.” The full document is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#how-can-you-get-assistance-with-foods-and-medicines-if-you-are-shielding

I suggest you register if you have have not done so. Very best of luck.

No one knows what is going to happen between now and the start of the summer term. The nursery might not still be in operation, changes might take place in some families that mean that places are not taken up. I think it would not be sensible to make any financial contribution in these circumstances.

As you say, the contract terms concerning closures did not envisage the current government-ordered isolation and the action the nursery is taking is unreasonable.

I suggest the best way of dealing with it is for all the parents to ignore it. It is particularly insensitive to foist invoices on parents at this stressful time with the implied worry that unless parents fund the nursery this far in advance of the next term the service might not be available.

One of the advantages of not using the likes of Amazon – and using real shops instead – is that you can already check out this information yourself. For example, the replacement toaster I recently bought from wilko clearly states that it was made in China.

If a product description doesn’t say it is made in China then I assume it is!

Many products made in China are as good as you can get but, as Derek says, it is best to look at them before you buy. A new Russell Hobbs toaster and kettle we bought last year have performed very well; they were made in China, probably designed and specified in the UK, and sold under a UK brand name with a UK registered address and service operation.

I am less concerned about the place of manufacture than the origins and traceability of the seller.

There are plenty of good products made in the UK, elsewhere in Europe and in other Asian countries, so there is really no difficulty in avoiding Chinese manufactures if that is your wish.

John, I’d certainly agree with looking for claims like “Made in the UK” rather than relying on assumptions in the absence of information.

Yes – what I should have written is “If a product description doesn’t state where it was made then I assume it was made in China!”

I’ve not tried Waitrose, but on Iceland’s website you can declare that you are in a priority category and then you get a better choice of delivery slots.

But, as of yesterday in my locality, that gave a very small choice as opposed to zero choice 🙁

In contrast, Tesco was fully booked and not offering any slots, other than a few for click and collect.

A friend has managed to do book this morning and Iceland should deliver tomorrow. What is currently on their website is: “We understand this is a worrying time, but many of our customers are elderly, vulnerable or self-isolating and are unable to get to our stores to buy their essential products.”

A click & collect vacancy turned up on Tesco’s website late yesterday evening and depending on what is in stock on the day I should be able to cancel part of my Morrisons delivery in April.

Waitrose are apparently still working on this PA.Barnes, and will soon be sending emails to all elderly vulnerable ‘at risk’ customers.

I presume government officials are working in conjunction with NHS registered elderly and ‘at risk’ patients and advising Supermarkets accordingly.

NHS in their letter to the vulnerable ‘at risk’ state:

“If you do not have contacts who can help support you go to
http://www.gov.uk/Coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800. 0288327.”

I hope this helps.

Although it has been reported that the refund rights under the Package Travel Regulations 2018 might be suspended I was not aware that that had actually taken effect yet, but in any case the Regulations would not apply to a hotel booking made separately from flights, etc, unless it was a Lnked Travel Arrangement. You are therefore back to the specific terms and conditions of your contract through the travel agent with the hotel and to goodwill. If you cancel the hotel booking you are almost certainly liable for the deposit and possibly more depending on the terms. If the hotel is able to accommodate you on a convenient alternative date then I would say that is a good outcome and preferable to a heavy loss.

On the price for postponement I would suggest some negotiation. The hotel cannot let its accommodation over the foreseeable period in the present circumstances, regardless of FCO advice or the lack of it. The government is warning that this could go on for some months yet so there is a risk that the hotel will face major difficulties going forward and could have to close down – so it needs to reflect that in its approach to you. Discuss this with your travel agent who should be on your side as their client. Costs will undoubtedly be higher at the same time next year and an uplift of £255 does not seem unreasonable to me – but you are leaving them in funds for an extended period in which anything might happen, and they should recognise that. I would suggest making an offer of £150 to protect next year’s booking and see what they say.

You will probably find that air fares will go up too for next year and you could mention that as well. Unfortunately, overall, you do not have much leverage since cancellation would cost you more and you would have to start all over again.

You might like to look up this Which? guidance –
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/package-travel-regulations#whats-a-linked-travel-arrangement