{"id":2906,"date":"2020-05-31T16:11:52","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T16:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ielts.completesuccess.in\/?p=2906"},"modified":"2021-06-18T14:58:50","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T14:58:50","slug":"consumer-advice-on-buying-shoes-recycling-at-work-handy-hints-to-employers-talking-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ielts.completesuccess.in\/index.php\/2020\/05\/31\/consumer-advice-on-buying-shoes-recycling-at-work-handy-hints-to-employers-talking-point\/","title":{"rendered":"General Reading Practice Test \u2013 6 (desktop)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Section 1: Question 1-14<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

CONSUMER ADVICE ON BUYING SHOES<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>

If you have a problem with shoes you\u2019ve recently bought, follow this four-step plan.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Step 1<\/strong><\/span>
Go back to the shop with proof of purchase. If you return faulty shoes at once, you have a right to insist on a refund. It is also likely that you will get one if you change your mind about the shoes and take them back immediately. But, if you delay or you\u2019ve had some use out of the shoes, the shop may not give you all your money back. It depends on the state of the shoes and how long you\u2019ve had them.<\/span>

If you are offered a credit note, you don\u2019t have to accept it. If you accept it, you will usually not be able to exchange it for cash later on. So, you may be left with an unwanted credit note, if you cannot find any other shoes you want from the shop.<\/span>
The shop may want to send the shoes back to head office for inspection. This is fair and could help to sort things out. But don\u2019t be put off by the shop which claims that it\u2019s the manufacturer\u2019s responsibility. This isn\u2019t true. It\u2019s the shop\u2019s legal duty to put things right.<\/span>

Step 2<\/strong><\/span>
If you don\u2019t seem to be getting anywhere, you can get help. Free advice is available from a Citizens Advice Bureau (get the address from your telephone book), or from a local Trading Standards Department. Again, consult the telephone directory under County, Regional or Borough Council. All these departments have people who can advise you about faulty goods and what to do with them.<\/span>

Step 3<\/strong><\/span>
Most shops are covered by the Footwear Code of Practice. If the shop you are dealing with is covered, you can ask for the shoes to be sent to the Footwear Testing Centre for an independent opinion. The shop has to agree with whatever the resulting report says. There is a charge of \u00a321. You pay \u00a37 and the shop pays the rest (including postage).<\/span>

Step 5<\/strong><\/span>
As a last resort, you can take your case to court. This is not as difficult as it sounds. The small claims procedure for amounts up to \u00a3 1000 (\u00a3750 in Scotland) is a cheap, easy and informal way of taking legal action.<\/span>

The relevant forms are available from your nearest County Court or, in Scotland, the Sheriff Court. You can get advice and leaflets from the Citizens Advice Bureau. Alternatively, some bookshops sell advice packs which contain the relevant forms.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Question 1-8:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?<\/span><\/p>

In boxes 1-8<\/strong> on your answer sheet, write:<\/span>

TRUE<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 if the statement agrees with the information<\/span>
FALSE<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 if the statement contradicts the information<\/span>
NOT GIVEN<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 if there is no information on this<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

1<\/strong>.\u00a0If you return unwanted shoes straightaway, with a receipt, the shop will probably give you a refund.<\/span>
2<\/strong>.\u00a0You are advised to accept a credit note if you are offered one.<\/span>
3<\/strong>.\u00a0The factory is responsible for replacing unwanted shoes.<\/span>
4<\/strong>.\u00a0You can ask any shoe shop to send shoes to the Footwear Testing Centre.<\/span>
5<\/strong>.\u00a0Shops prefer to give a credit note rather than change shoes.<\/span>
6<\/strong>.\u00a0The customer contributes to the cost of having faulty shoes tested.<\/span>
7<\/strong>.\u00a0The procedure for making a legal claim is easier in Scotland.<\/span>
8<\/strong>.\u00a0Legal advice and forms can be bought from certain shops.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

LOST CARDS<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>

If you discover that your credit card, cheque book, debit card or cash card is missing, telephone the credit card company or bank as soon as possible. Follow this up with a letter. If you suspect theft, tell the police as well. In most circumstances, provided you act quickly, you will not have to pay any bills which a thief runs up on your account. Most home insurance policies will also cover you against even this limited risk.<\/span>

Because plastic money is now so common, central registration schemes such as Credit Card Shield and Card Protection System exist to help customers whose cards are lost or stolen. Under the schemes, you file details of all your cards – including cash cards and account cards issued by shops – with a central registry, for a small annual fee. Then, if any or all of your cards are stolen, you need to make only one phone call to the registry, which is open around the clock 365 days a year. As soon as you have called, your responsibility for any bills run up by the thief ends and the scheme’s staff make sure that all the companies whose cards you had are notified.<\/span><\/p>

What you stand to lose on a stolen card<\/span><\/p>

CREDIT CARD<\/strong>\u00a0You will not have to pay more than \u00a350 of the bills a thief runs up with your card. If you report the loss before the card is used, you will not have to pay anything.<\/span>

CHEQUES AND GUARANTEE CARD<\/strong>\u00a0Unless you have been careless – by signing blank cheques, say – you will not have to pay for any forged cheques a thief uses. The bank or shop that accepts them will have to bear the loss.<\/span>

DEBIT CARD<\/strong>\u00a0(Switch or Visa Delta) The banks operate a system similar to that for credit cards, in that you are liable for bills up to \u00a350.<\/span><\/p>


If your cash card is stolen<\/span><\/p>

Legally, you can be made to pay back any sums a thief withdraws using your card, but only up to the time you report the loss and up to \u00a350, unless the bank can prove gross negligence, such as writing your personal identification number on your card.<\/span>

\u2022\u00a0<\/strong>Never keep your card and a note of your personal number (which does not appear on the card) together.<\/span>
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong>Memorise your personal number if possible. If you must make a note of it, disguise it as something else – a telephone number, say.<\/span>
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong>The same rules and precautions apply to a credit card used as a cash card.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Question 9-14:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Chose the correct letter,\u00a0A, B, C<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0D<\/strong>.<\/span>
Write the correct letter in boxes\u00a09-14<\/strong>\u00a0on your answer sheet.<\/span>

9. What should you do first if you lose a credit card?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>