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The Sale of Goods Act 1979 protects consumers who buy from traders by adding statutory rights to every contract.

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Under the Act if you buy something from a shop that is faulty, not as described or breaks down sooner than you could reasonable expect you can get a refund or repair.

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This also applies to second hand goods, if you’re sold a product with an existing fault and it wasn’t made clear to you when you bought it - you should be entitled to a refund, repair or replacement.Ìý

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When you buy at a distance, online, over the phone or by mail order, you have the same rights as you would if you made the purchase in a shop and you are also protected under the Distance Selling Regulations 2000.

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This means that if you change your mind you can cancel up to (normally) seven working days after the date you received the goods and receive a full refund.

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To find out more about your rights when buying goods visit

While at first glance selling your unwanted jewellery may seem a great way to earn money Rip Off Britain has uncovered that it’s not always the golden opportunity that’s promised.Ìý

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Sylvia Rook from the Trading Standards Institute told us: ‘There is a wide disparity in how much shops or dealers will pay for gold’.

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‘Unfortunately there isn’t much trading standards officers can do if people are getting a bad deal, provided the trader is not actually misleading the seller about the gold’s worth.'

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‘We can only urge people to shop around to make sure they are getting a fair price for their gold.’

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The Trading Standards Institute advises consumers to:

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Never deal with people who visit your home asking if you have any jewellery to sell as they may be rogue traders or even would-be burglars

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Don't respond to adverts offering to buy gold if the trader has no fixed premises

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Remember that if someone tells you that they will give you X amount for a piece of jewellery, that is not the same as saying that it is worth that amount

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Get several quotes

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Make sure your jewellery is weighed with accurate scales, verified and stamped by an authorised person

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If your jewellery contains any precious stones be sure that their value is taken into account

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Any precious metal dealer is required to display a hallmarking notice notice in the location where they deal with customers - it is an offence not to do so

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Look for the carat marking on your jewellery's hallmarking stamp to check the gold's purity

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For more information visit the