How to stop Halloween horrors from eating away at your cash - from vampire devices to ghoulish traders

How to stop Halloween horrors from eating away at your cash - from vampire devices to ghoulish traders Consumer rights expert Martyn James runs through all the scary things that can spook your wallet this Halloween It’s Halloween this weekend and the shops are filled with spooky decorations and treats. Let’s be honest: there have been more than enough horror stories this year that have ruined our days and raised our bills. I’ll be helping you tackle those awful things in the coming weeks. However, this week, I’m taking a light-hearted look at some of the Halloween horrors that can catch you out at this time of year. So whether it’s ill-judged alcohol adventures or things that go bump in the night, don’t be scared! Don’t let the spirits spoil your shopping! From Halloween to Christmas, this is the season of shopping. However, as those parties draw near, you may find yourself becoming increasingly desperate as you try to find the right outfit. Alternatively, you might just have had ‘a moment’ in the sales and overspent on things you don’t want or need. One of the most common errors shoppers make is going online after a sherry or two. But those evil spirits can cloud your judgement and make you buy wacky things. I once opened the door to find an 8ft inflatable flamingo in the post after an ill-advised late night shopping spree fuelled by cheap wine. This is surprisingly common. A usually sensible friend of mine confessed to purchasing 50 disco balls and 100 packs of ice lolly moulds after another drink-fuelled night down the online shops. But don’t worry! If you’ve bought things online then in most cases you have a 14-day period that you can return them and get a full refund, according to the Consumer Contract Regulations. You’ll have to pay for the returns though if the items have been sent. Some things aren’t covered, like personalised goods or holidays – so don’t buy a trip abroad if you’ve had a few Jagerbombs. Stake the vampire devices There’s nothing more terrifying than an energy bill at the moment. But did you know that vampires lurking in your home are sucking away your energy even when they aren’t doing anything? ‘Vampire devices’ are electronic items that we leave plugged in on stand by for ease of use. But by switching them off properly or unplugging them, we could save between £50 to £200 a year depending on most estimates. The Energy Saving Trust says that devices left on standby use between 9% and 16% of our total electricity consumption. Smart TVs are the biggest offenders, using up to £25 a year in energy when on standby – though you don’t want to lose out if you’re recording your favourite programmes However, games consoles, laptops, phone chargers, kitchen appliances and microwaves are all sucking your energy supplies – and you can often just turn them off if your plug has a switch. Bumps in the attic Are you being kept awake by a bump in the night? Are ghosts shaking chains in your walls? Do creaks and cracks keep you on edge. Realistically, you’re not being haunted. Those noises are indications that your home may need some simple repairs. At this time of year, your pipes can play up if the hot water and heating hasn’t been on full blast for a while. You can do a bit of troubleshooting by reading up on how to bleed your radiators (make sure the heating is off and you’ve let the radiators cool down). It’s worthwhile cranking up the boiler and slowly but surely increasing the thermostat by a notch a day from a low level (say 14) to the low 20s. This should help you avoid damage to your pipes. Get your boiler an annual service too. This is usually quite cheap, and you might find that you can get a free or cheaper appointment through your home insurance. Every year, give your home a once over from the attic to the basement. One of the most common reasons why insurance claims are rejected is ‘wear and tear’. This is where failing to maintain things like loose tiles on the roof or leaning garden fences result in rejected claims. See if you can find what’s causing those spooky noises and make repairs if you can. It’s the season of big insurance claims and you don’t want to get caught out. Oh and don’t risk a real-life horror story by clambering around on the roof or clinging to the guttering. See if you know someone with a drone for those ‘hard to reach’ areas! Beware the zombie trader The internet is filled with the living dead – or ‘zombie retailers and traders’. These are dodgy shops or tradespeople who rip people off, then shut down, only to come back to life with virtually the same websites and names. Sadly, this practice isn’t illegal – but you can usually avoid them if you do a bit of research before you click. Many of these undead ‘businesses’ lurk in the adverts on your social media feeds. Don’t forget that companies like Facebook and Google make it almost impossible to complain to, even if you conduct a séance. Sadly, most of the adverts I’ve seen on social media sites turn out to be from dead rubbish firms when you check them out. So before you commit, check online reviews first. Look for warnings about poor customer service and unfulfilled orders or contracts. Have a look at what the returns policy is and if there’s a phone line and an address in the UK. And always pay by debit or credit card, so you can demand a refund if your stuff doesn’t materialise. Is a business ghosting you? In the last few years, there’s been a notable rise in businesses that take your money, then ghost you if you make a complaint. So let’s be clear on this. When you buy goods or services you have 30 days to return the item and get a full refund – including return costs – if the goods aren’t as advertised or are misrepresented. If you buy online you can change your mind within 14 days for most purchases. But if the business ignores you, or the refund doesn’t appear, then you can go direct to your bank or card provider and ask them to ‘charge back’ the money. You’ll need to tell them the retailer is ignoring the law and you may have to fill out a short form, but you’ll get your cash back. Don’t trust those horrible Halloween costumes According to new research from my good mates at Trading Standards, 91% of Halloween costumes failed to meet UK legal requirements. Trading Standards found a whole range of horrors, from faulty and fake labels to missing safety warnings. In recent years, we’ve seen some truly horrific injuries after Halloween costumes went up in flames, so never buy items without UKCA or CE marks, look for UK firms and manufacturers and only buy from reputable retailers – sadly, this may not include the big online marketplaces. And why not replace the candles with LED versions, just to be on the safe side. - Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio presenter and journalist