Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has shared his memorable ‘SAD FART’ acronym to help shoppers
Money saving expert Martin Lewis has revealed the memorable acronym every shopper should remember if something they buy goes wrong.
The consumer champion says too many people mistakenly believe they must deal directly with a manufacturer when a product develops a fault, when in fact their legal rights are usually with the shop or retailer that sold the item. Speaking on a special back-to-basics edition of The Martin Lewis Podcast made for the BBC, he urged consumers to remember what he calls the ‘SAD FART’ rules when buying goods.
The unusual acronym states purchases should be Satisfactory quality, As Described, and also that they should be Fit for purpose, and last a Reasonable length of Time. He explained that if a product fails those tests, shoppers have important legal protections under the Consumer Rights Act.
In response to a consumer query over where people should go if a product fails, he said: “The most important rule to remember on your consumer rights is your contract is with the company that you pay. So you’re asking me, do I take it back to the retailer or the manufacturer? You take it back to the retailer. That is where you have all of your legal rights.”
He said every purchase should meet the SAD FART test. “When you buy an item, it must follow what I call the SAD FART rules. That stands for satisfactory quality, as described, fit for purpose and – I cheat it slightly there – last a reasonable length of time.”
Martin said shoppers returning faulty goods within the first month are in the strongest position.
“If you take it back to the retailer within the first 30 days, then they must give you a full refund if it’s faulty. After 30 days, then you’re entitled to either a repair, or replacement, or a partial refund, depending on the situation.”
He stressed that consumers should not be put off if retailers try to direct them elsewhere.
“The retailer might say, ‘No, no, take it to the manufacturer. It’s no longer under warranty.’ … (That’s) Nonsense. I’m talking about your legal statutory rights, warranty schmarranty. Your rights are with the retailer.”
He also explained that what counts as a “reasonable length of time” depends on the product involved. He said a cheap item failing after several months might be acceptable, but an expensive smartphone breaking after only 18 months despite careful use would not necessarily be considered reasonable.
“If you bought a £2,000 phone and you’ve used it in exactly the right way and not done anything to it, and it breaks after 18 months, I’d say that’s unreasonable. So I would take it back to the retailer.”
The advice featured in a special “I Don’t Get Money” edition of his BBC podcast, designed to answer the financial questions many people are too embarrassed to ask. Alongside consumer rights, Martin explains how pensions work, the difference between saving and investing, what energy units on bills actually mean, and how bonds work.
He also answers listeners’ questions on why Section 75 credit card protection does not extend to additional cardholders, and why some motorists can still see their insurance premiums rise after a no-fault accident. The programme is intended as a jargon-free guide to everyday money matters, with Martin aiming to simplify some of the most commonly misunderstood areas of personal finance. More details here.
