A Fair Deal for Consumers / Shopping Abroad

Being part of the EU increases consumer choice and as a result drives up quality in goods and services, whilst pushing prices down.

UK nationals are free to shop in another member state where perhaps prices are lower and bring goods back without incurring any further taxes provided goods are for personal use only.

Furthermore, you have full consumer rights, just as you would if you were shopping at home. And a procedure is in place for redress if you have a justified complaint against a trader in another country.

The European Small Claims procedure allows you to make a claim for under €2000, if all other complaint and dispute resolution means have failed.

This freedom to shop has made the so-called ‘booze cruise’ hugely popular in the UK. Shoppers get on the ferry to France, stock up the car with alcohol at Calais’ hypermarkets (which would be far pricier back home) and are then able to take their shopping back to the UK without paying further duty on it.