Consumer Law

[warncoort]

Folks,
I have recently bought microfiche copies of parish registers for transcription however i find that some images are irregularly aligned,upside down and printed on the wrong side of the fiche making it very difficult to scroll through months and years in order.Had this been $20 worth i would have accepted it as a cheap and nasty copy and put up with it, but as this will run to around 200 pounds i am more than a little peeved.The County responded by saying that this was copied from a master fiche and that i would have to get used to it.Does British law guarantee the consumer that goods purchased will be suitable for their intended use?
Eric

[Geoff Wycherley]

If my thinking is correct if the item was described as having fault, ie upside down, and printed on the wrong side then you have purchased the item knowing that faults exist. You would have no redress.

If they have advertised the item without defect then your expectation is that it works properly so any fault that occurs ie upside down and printed on the wrong side is a fault in its manufacture. it has to be remedied by the seller.

Inform them in writing that it is not fit for purpose and invite them to advise you what steps they are going to take to correct the matter. Do not email them,send a written letter addressed to the Head of the Department you bought the registers from, if you can find his/her name the better it will be.



Keep copies of all your correspondence.

Remember, Hell hath no fury like a wronged consumer.

Regards
Geoff W

[Guy Etchells]

I would suggest the answer is it depends.

If the microfiche are fiche of the original registers then there may be nothing wrong with what you have received.
Entries in Parish Registers are sometimes written with the page upside down or from back to front, any filming of the register will reflect that fact.

Without seeing the relevant fiche I cannot say whether this has occurred or whether the pages have been turned in some way.
Cheers
Guy

[Peter Goodey]

Here is some government information on consumer rights

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governme...ghts/index.htm

I was puzzled when you said "some images are...printed on the wrong side of the fiche". Surely there's emulsion only on one side?

[warncoort]

Wrong side of fiche is not correct.Image one is readable,image two is upside down,image three is at 90 degrees and image four is back to front;fiche has to be turned over to read.it appears that when the master was made technology,or the operator,weren't able to sort images for uniformity.I will contact the county again.
Thanks for your ideas,gents.
Eric