Guided through a legal minefield

You're all set for your summer break - your bags are packed, you've got your passports and tickets - and you can't wait to get there.

But when you arrive at the hotel you find that your room is tiny, bare wires are hanging over the bed, the toilets are primitive and the facilities . . . well, there aren't any.

That was the experience of a Wexford couple who booked a last-minute holiday to Bulgaria last year. They sued their

travel agent in the Small Claims Court and won €634 in compensation.

Should you be unfortunate enough to find yourself in a holiday from hell this summer you'll need to know what legal avenues are open to you. Confusing technicalities often arise over who is liable, particularly when the holiday organiser is based abroad.

A new book aims to outline your legal rights across a

wide range of goods and services. What is the Law? Consumer Rights eliminates legal jargon in favour of everyday language and illustrates how the law works in practice using a mixture of real court cases and hypothetical case studies.

The book was written by Ian Long, a solicitor with Ulster Bank in Dublin and a former journalist. He has divided his guide into nine sections, starting with the basics of consumer law and moving on to consumer safety, motor vehicles, tenant's rights, professional services (including doctors, solicitors, accountants and builders), banking and credit services.

Long gives details of relevant legislation and important cases at the end of each section. He also reproduces the code of ethics and practice of the Irish Bankers' Federation - well worth a look in light of recent revelations.

He warns that, as well as knowing what they are entitled to, consumers should distinguish between legal rights and what many retailers also offer in the name of good customer service.

The book offers a way through what is for many a daunting maze of consumer law. By recognising that most of us are not legal experts, it makes accessible what can all too easily be fogged by legal speak.

Ciaran Murray

What Is The Law? Consumer Rights by Ian Long is published by Thomson Round Hall, €19.99