I bought some “antique” jugs and plates at auction. They were wrongly described both during the sale and on the invoice, and when I got them home I discovered they were reproductions. The auctioneer says he won’t take the items back because he had told bidders that they bought at their own risk, and there was a notice to that effect on the wall. What are my rights?
There is a considerable amount of consumer legislation, and you may be able to refer the issue to your local trading standards officer. Auctioneers cannot necessarily hide behind disclaimers. An auctioneer has a duty to use skill and care to ensure that what is sold is described correctly, and you may be able to sue for negligence. Alternatively the sale may be invalid through either mistake or misrepresentation.