Martin Lewis issues warning over Christmas shopping law that could cost you hundreds

We’ll all be feeling the pinch this Christmas, as festivities and a cost of living crisis collide.

Most of us will take any help we can get, which is why we’ve been following Martin Lewis’s Christmas financial advice so closely.

In the latest episode of ITV’s Martin Lewis Money Show, the finance expert warned anyone thinking of buying presents in the coming weeks to watch out for a shopping law that could cost lots of money.

Simon Kirwan / Alamy Stock Photo

Martin explained: "Christmas shopping consumer rights, very important to know.

“You have a right to change your mind with items bought online, you do not have a right to change your mind with items bought in store.”

He added: "In stores by law you can only return goods if they're faulty. If you buy something and it's the wrong size or wrong colour you have no automatic right to return it in store unless it's faulty."

Martin also pointed out that although you have to be the purchaser of an item to legally return it in store, it’s unlikely staff will actually check.

That said, if you were to return a gift card that had been bought for you, a member of staff could request the person who bought the gift card be present in order for a refund to be processed.

What’s more, Martin told shoppers about an awesome way to encourage discounts from online companies.

He shared: "Here's a trick, if you've got an account to shop, and there's something relatively expensive that you want to buy, put it in your online shopping basket and then walk away.

"Wait a couple of days, and if you're lucky they may give you a discount.” We’ll definitely be trying that one!

Martin has also issued an urgent warning to shoppers not to get themselves into debt over the Christmas period.

When a member of the audience said she didn’t know how she would be able to afford Christmas now she’s gone from working full-time to part-time, Martin told her: “You know you are not going to be able to spend like you want to.

“If we talk about how we do it in a more disciplined manner, one of the things I always say people do wrong during the festive time, is that they create a lust list.

“They have a perfect Christmas pictured in their mind of everything that they want and exactly how it is going to be, and then they try and work out how to do it.

“Please don’t do that. That’s likely to lead to debt or disappointment.”