Be a bright spark if you are buying electrical items this Christmas!

Making your money go further at Christmas can be important, so if you are thinking about buying an electrical item as a present this Christmas, make sure you know the true cost of extended warranties advises Consumer Direct working in partnership with Herefordshire Council's trading standards department.

From MP3 Player to games consoles, TVs, cameras and laptops extended warranties are often offered to give you "peace of mind". They generally begin after the manufacturers guarantee finishes and usually cover the costs of any repairs to the appliance if anything goes wrong within a specific time period.

David Hurst, Centre Manager for Consumer Direct West Midlands, said: "We recently had a call from a consumer who had bought a HD ready TV for £1,000, and the extended four-year warranty cost an additional £200.

"Extended warranties can often be expensive and, under the Sale of Goods Act, if an item is faulty or breaks down you already have certain legal rights within a reasonable time period to ask the retailer to sort out the problem either by repairing or replacing the item. An extended warranty may only be worth purchasing if it gives you additional cover (such as accidental damage) but you may already be covered for this if you have home contents insurance," he added.

Our advice to consumers during National Consumer Week (November 17 to 22) is:

• Always keep your receipt, this is your proof of purchase if something goes wrong. It is also worth ensuring that you send off/register the manufacturers guarantee which is often included in the items packaging.
• Check the small print - ensure you fully understand what you are buying, how much it will cost you and what benefits the extended warranty brings to you and your individual circumstances
• Don't feel obliged to buy a warranty for the item there and then. Retailers must offer extended warranties on domestic electrical items on the same terms (including any discounts) for a period of 30 days from your purchase. You also do not have to buy a warranty at the shop where you bought the goods.
• A key benefit of some warranties is a 'new for old' replacement if the item cannot be cost effectively repaired and it is still under the manufacturers guarantee. Others only offer a contribution towards a replacement item and the amount offered will often vary. Some policies also set a maximum claim limit which may be less than the cost of your item. It is also worth checking if accidental or cosmetic damage is included or not.

Hopefully your item will be trouble free, however if you do need advice on buying a warranty or are having problems with faulty goods this Christmas, call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ for additional information.