Category: Uncategorized

A pram listed on an overseas website can look cheaper than the UK price, but the price shown is not always what arrives at the door. Goods sent from abroad go through customs, and tax and duty can be added. This guide sets out what GOV.UK says about VAT and Customs Duty on goods sent from outside the UK, and what the UK Trade Tariff lists for baby carriages. The rules differ between Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland, so each is described separately. It is general information, not tax advice.

Who is responsible for taking goods through customs

GOV.UK says anything posted or couriered from another country goes through customs to check it is not banned or restricted and that the right tax and duty are paid. The parcel or courier company, such as Royal Mail or Parcelforce, is responsible for taking goods through UK customs, and it tells the recipient if VAT or duty is due. Goods may be seized if the rules are not followed, and the sender must declare goods correctly (GOV.UK, “Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad”).

VAT: Great Britain

For goods sent from outside the UK to Great Britain, GOV.UK says VAT is charged on all goods except gifts worth £39 or less. VAT is charged at the rate that applies to the goods. How it is collected depends on the value:

• Goods worth £135 or less in total: if the buyer bought the goods and they are not excise goods, the seller will have included VAT in the total price paid.
• Goods worth more than £135: the buyer must pay VAT to the delivery company, either before the goods are delivered or when collecting them.

If VAT is paid to the delivery company, it is charged on the total package value, which includes the goods, postage, packaging and insurance, and any duty owed (GOV.UK, “Tax and duty”). Our guide to VAT on travel systems explains the rates that apply to car seats and pushchairs.

Customs Duty: Great Britain

GOV.UK says Customs Duty is charged on goods sent from outside the UK to Great Britain if they are excise goods or worth more than £135. Non-excise goods worth £135 or less attract no duty. For goods above £135, the rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from, and GOV.UK directs buyers to the Trade Tariff service. Duty is calculated on the price paid plus postage, packaging and insurance. The delivery company will send a bill saying which fees are due, and it will normally hold a parcel for about three weeks before returning it to the sender if the bill is unpaid.

Northern Ireland

For Northern Ireland, GOV.UK says VAT applies to goods sent from outside the UK and the EU. Customs Duty applies to goods that are excise goods, worth more than £135, or considered at risk of entering the EU, and the courier company will say if goods are considered at risk. For goods not at risk of entering the EU, non-excise goods worth £135 or less attract no duty, and above £135 the UK rate of duty applies. Buyers in Northern Ireland whose goods are at risk of entering the EU should follow the separate rules GOV.UK sets out for that situation.

What the Trade Tariff lists for prams

The UK Trade Tariff classifies “Baby carriages and parts thereof” under heading 8715. For commodity code 8715 00 10 00, “Baby carriages”, the tariff lists a third country duty of 2.00% and VAT of 20.00%. It also lists 0.00% preferential duty for goods from a long list of countries and trading areas, including the European Union, which depends on the goods qualifying under the relevant trade arrangement (UK Trade Tariff, commodity 8715 00 10 00, “Baby carriages”). The tariff showed these rates on 21 September 2026 and they can change, so a buyer should check the current tariff and confirm the right commodity code for the specific product with the seller or the delivery company.

As an illustration only, a pram costing £300, with £30 for postage and packaging, ordered into Great Britain from a country without a preferential rate would total £330 for duty purposes. Duty at 2% would be £6.60. VAT at 20% on £336.60 would be £67.32, giving £73.92 in extra charges on top of the £330. This is a worked example of the GOV.UK method, not a quote.

Practical points before ordering

• Check whether the seller shows prices with UK VAT included, as GOV.UK says sellers will have done for goods worth £135 or less.
• Ask what the total delivered cost will be if the order is above £135.
• Check the seller’s return arrangements before ordering. Our guides to the 14-day cancellation right and faulty pushchairs describe the UK rights that apply when a trader supplies a pushchair.
• GOV.UK says a refund of VAT or Customs Duty can be requested if goods are returned or the buyer thinks too much was charged, using form BOR 286 for Royal Mail or Parcelforce deliveries and form C285 for other couriers.

Questions readers often ask

Is the £135 figure a limit on what can be bought?

No. It is the value at which the way VAT is collected changes, and the point above which Customs Duty can apply.

Who sends the bill for tax and duty?

According to GOV.UK, the parcel or courier company, such as Royal Mail or Parcelforce, which will say exactly which fees are due.

The bottom line

For a pram ordered from outside the UK, VAT and duty can add to the price. In Great Britain, goods worth £135 or less should have VAT included by the seller and attract no duty, while goods above £135 attract VAT paid to the delivery company plus duty at the tariff rate, which the UK Trade Tariff lists as 2% for baby carriages unless a preference applies. Northern Ireland follows similar thresholds with extra rules for goods at risk of entering the EU. A total delivered price should be confirmed before ordering.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad”
• GOV.UK, “Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad: Tax and duty”
• UK Trade Tariff, commodity 8715 00 10 00, “Baby carriages” (trade-tariff.service.gov.uk)

A travel system’s price tag looks like one number, but for VAT purposes it can be several. HMRC’s guidance treats the car seat and the pushchair differently, which is why a bundle can contain parts charged at different rates. This guide explains what HMRC’s VAT Notice 701/23 says about children’s car seats and travel systems. VAT is a UK-wide tax, so the position described applies across the UK. It is general information rather than tax advice, and it describes the rules as HMRC’s notice states them, on a page last updated on 4 November 2022.

The three headline rates

GOV.UK lists three main VAT rates for goods and services: a standard rate of 20% for most goods and services, a reduced rate of 5% for some, with children’s car seats given as an example, and a zero rate, with most children’s clothes given as an example (GOV.UK, “VAT rates”). HMRC’s notice, covered next, deals with prams and pushchairs directly.

What HMRC counts as a reduced-rate car seat

HMRC’s notice, titled “Protective equipment”, says children’s car seats and travel systems are reduced-rated at 5% VAT. Under section 5.1 the reduced rate applies to safety seats (seats designed for an infant or small child in a road vehicle, secured to the vehicle by a seat belt or anchorage points), booster seats, booster cushions and car seat bases, and it applies to both ISOFIX and non-ISOFIX bases. Under section 5.2 it also applies to protective travel systems such as “lie-flat” car seat products that let a baby lie flat in a car and are secured with a three-point safety harness, and which can also be used with compatible pushchairs to form a pram system (HMRC, “Protective equipment (VAT Notice 701/23)”, section 5).

How a travel system is split

Section 5.3 of the notice sets out how VAT applies to travel systems, depending on what is supplied together:

• A pram or pushchair plus a safety seat that can be fitted together and each used independently: the safety seat is reduced-rated and the pram or pushchair element is standard-rated.
• A safety seat plus a bare wheeled framework: where the supply consists of just those two, the whole supply is reduced-rated.
• Safety seat, wheeled framework and pushchair or pram seat, all three together: the pram seat is standard-rated and the other two elements are reduced-rated.
• Pram seat plus wheeled framework only: the whole supply is standard-rated.
• Items supplied separately: the safety seat is reduced-rated, while the wheeled framework and the pram seat are standard-rated.

The notice explains that the framework is only of use when one of the other two elements is attached, and that any combination of the three may be supplied together. It does not say how a seller should divide a single bundle price between elements, so the split shown on an invoice is a matter for the retailer.

What this means for a budget

The rate difference is large. As an illustration only, VAT on £200 of goods before tax comes to £10 at 5% and £40 at 20%. A car seat sold separately therefore carries much less VAT than the same value of pushchair. That does not mean a bundle is cheaper or dearer than buying the parts separately, because retailers set their own prices and the notice governs only the VAT treatment. A useful check is whether the advertised price is the full price payable, which our guide to advertised pram prices and the total price explains. It is also worth knowing that a “car seat” in a pram listing may be a lie-flat carrycot with restraint straps, which the notice treats as a reduced-rate product.

For the practical side of matching seats and frames, see our guides to travel system adapters and to budget and premium travel systems.

Questions readers often ask

Is a pushchair ever charged at 5%?

Under section 5.3 of the notice, the pram or pushchair element is standard-rated at 20%. A framework supplied only with a safety seat is treated together with it at 5%, but a framework supplied with only a pram seat is standard-rated.

Does the reduced rate cover a car seat bought on its own?

Yes. In section 5.3 of the notice, when supplied separately the safety seat is reduced-rated, while the wheeled framework and the pram seat are standard-rated.

What is the standard rate?

GOV.UK gives the standard rate as 20% and says it rose to 20% on 4 January 2011, from 17.5%.

The bottom line

HMRC’s VAT Notice 701/23 puts children’s car seats, booster seats, car seat bases and lie-flat carrycots with restraint straps at 5% VAT, while the pram or pushchair element of a travel system is standard-rated at 20%. In a bundle, the mix of rates depends on which of the three elements are included: safety seat, wheeled framework and pram seat. The notice covers VAT treatment only, so it says nothing about whether one price is better value than another.

Sources

• HMRC, “Protective equipment (VAT Notice 701/23)” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “VAT rates”

At the till or checkout, a pram purchase often comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee, and sometimes with an offer of an extended warranty for an extra fee. For a budget buyer, the question is whether that paperwork is worth anything on top of the rights the law already gives. This guide summarises what GOV.UK and Citizens Advice say. It is general information, not legal advice, and the Citizens Advice page it draws on is written for England, with separate versions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Guarantees and warranties add to legal rights

Citizens Advice says warranties and guarantees add to a buyer’s legal rights, each one is different, and they tend to be useful in three situations: something has gone wrong after the first six months and a repair or replacement is wanted; an item was bought abroad and the manufacturer is based in the UK; or the trader has gone out of business and there is a problem with the goods they supplied. It suggests considering legal rights instead, because getting money back, a repair or a replacement may be easier that way, usually within the first six months, with legal rights for up to six years (five years in Scotland) if there is a fault (Citizens Advice, “Claim using a warranty or guarantee”). The statutory steps for a faulty pushchair are set out in our guide to faulty pushchair rights.

A guarantee can be the simpler route in some cases. Citizens Advice gives the example of a buyer who bought an item seven months ago and holds a guarantee lasting a year.

What GOV.UK says about extended warranties

GOV.UK’s guidance on extended warranties describes them as extra protection for a new product on top of the standard, or manufacturer’s, warranty, which can cover repair or replacement after the standard warranty has expired. Its main messages are:

• No obligation: nobody has to buy an extended warranty, and the standard manufacturer’s warranty might be enough.
• Statutory rights continue: whether or not a warranty is bought, the buyer is still entitled to statutory rights, which may include a refund, repair or replacement if something is faulty.
• No need to decide on the spot: a buyer can shop around, and a warranty need not be bought at the same time as the product.
• Existing cover: home contents insurance, or some bank accounts, may already cover the item, so it is worth asking.
• Value for money: the total cost of a warranty can be compared with the cost of buying a replacement.

The guidance also says a business selling an extended warranty must not give false or misleading information, must not omit or hide important information, and should make clear what is not covered, with cosmetic damage given as an example (GOV.UK, “Extended warranties: what you need to know before you buy”).

Electrical goods have extra rules, but a pushchair is not one

GOV.UK says extra rights apply when a domestic electrical product and an extended warranty are bought from the same retailer, including a duty to display an example warranty price and duration and to say the purchase is optional. Citizens Advice lists a 45-day refund right for extended warranties on electrical goods bought at the same time as the goods. A pram or pushchair is not an electrical product, so buyers should not assume those specific extra protections apply to a warranty sold with one.

Checking the small print

Citizens Advice’s list of points to look at in a guarantee or warranty is a useful checklist for pram buyers:

• Who can claim: only the person who bought the item can make a claim, unless the wording refers to “third party rights”. That matters if a pushchair was bought second-hand or received as a gift.
• Time limit: note when the guarantee expires.
• Return costs: check whether postage, packing and transport costs are payable if the item has to be sent back.
• Registration: a manufacturer’s guarantee may require a registration card to be returned, and it may not be valid if that is not done.
• Proof of purchase: a claim will usually need a receipt showing where and when the goods were bought, details of the problem and a copy of the warranty or guarantee.

Citizens Advice adds that if a manufacturer’s guarantee applies and the trader has gone out of business, the guarantee should still be valid. A guarantee given by the seller should be checked to see whether it is insurance-backed, meaning an insurance policy protects it if the trader closes.

Cancelling an extended warranty

Citizens Advice says a buyer who signed up for an extended warranty by phone or online may get an automatic 14-day cooling-off period, allowing cancellation and a refund. Our guide to the 14-day cancellation right covers the separate right to cancel the pushchair itself.

Where to complain

GOV.UK advises that a buyer with concerns about a mis-sold extended warranty should first ask the business to look into the complaint. If that does not resolve it, help is available from Citizens Advice in England and Wales, Consumer Advice Scot in Scotland (0808 164 6000) and Consumerline in Northern Ireland (0300 123 6262).

Questions readers often ask

Is an extended warranty compulsory when buying a pram?

No. GOV.UK states that no-one has to buy an extended warranty.

Does a guarantee replace legal rights?

No. Citizens Advice says warranties and guarantees add to legal rights.

The bottom line

A manufacturer’s guarantee or optional extended warranty on a pushchair adds to the legal right to a repair, replacement or refund for faulty goods, not replaces it. Citizens Advice says legal rights last up to six years (five in Scotland) and are often easier to use in the first six months, while a guarantee can be handy later on or if the seller has closed. GOV.UK says nobody has to buy an extended warranty and buyers can shop around, and the 45-day electrical-goods refund rule does not apply to a pram.

Sources

• Citizens Advice, “Claim using a warranty or guarantee” (citizensadvice.org.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Extended warranties: what you need to know before you buy”

A pushchair that arrives weeks late, or never, can leave a family without a pram when it is needed. The law sets default delivery deadlines, and it also decides who bears the loss if a parcel is damaged or goes missing on the way. This guide summarises sections 28 and 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which the legislation site shows as applying across the UK, using the wording of the Act. It is general information, not legal advice.

The default delivery deadline

Section 28 applies to any sales contract between a trader and a consumer. Unless the two have agreed otherwise, the contract is treated as including a term that the trader must deliver the goods. Where no time or period has been agreed, the term is that delivery must happen without undue delay and, in any event, not more than 30 days after the day on which the contract is entered into (legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 28(2) and (3)).

The Act says an “agreed” time or period means one agreed by the trader and the consumer. Because an agreed date replaces the 30-day default, the delivery date shown at checkout is worth recording, and a pre-ordered pram may carry a later agreed date.

What to do when delivery is late

Section 28 gives two routes, depending on the circumstances.

The consumer may treat the contract as at an end straight away if:

• the trader has refused to deliver;
• delivery at the agreed time or within the agreed period was essential, taking into account all the relevant circumstances when the contract was made; or
• the consumer told the trader before the contract was made that delivery by the relevant time was essential.

In any other circumstances, the consumer may set an appropriate period and require the trader to deliver before it ends. If the goods still do not arrive within that period, the consumer may then treat the contract as at an end. Where the contract is treated as at an end, the trader must, without undue delay, reimburse all payments made under it (section 28(5) to (9)).

The last ground is the reason to state a deadline clearly when ordering. A buyer who needs the pushchair by a particular date should say so in writing before buying, because section 28(6)(c) refers to what the consumer told the trader before the contract was entered into.

If the contract is not ended

A buyer who does not treat the contract as ended is not prevented from cancelling the order for any of the goods, or rejecting goods that have been delivered. The trader must then reimburse without undue delay the payments made for those goods. Where goods form a “commercial unit”, a unit whose division would materially impair the value or character of the goods, the consumer cannot cancel or reject part without the rest. The Act also states that section 28 does not prevent the consumer from seeking other remedies where they are open (section 28(10) to (13)).

Damage or loss in transit

Section 29 deals with risk. A sales contract is treated as including a term that the goods remain at the trader’s risk until they come into the physical possession of the consumer, or of a person identified by the consumer to take possession of them. There is one exception: if the goods are handed to a carrier that the consumer commissioned, and that carrier is not one the trader named as an option for the consumer, the goods are at the consumer’s risk from delivery to the carrier. Even then, the Act says the consumer’s rights against the carrier are not affected (legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 29).

In practice, for a pram bought from a retailer and sent by the retailer’s chosen courier, a parcel that never arrives, or arrives crushed, remains the trader’s responsibility. The buyer’s claim lies against the retailer. A pram collected by an arranged courier of the buyer’s own choosing is the exception described above.

Practical steps

• Note the promised date: screenshot the delivery estimate and order confirmation.
• State any essential deadline before buying: in writing, and ask the seller to acknowledge it.
• Set a clear final date: if delivery is late, a written request that sets an appropriate period to deliver starts the route in section 28(7) and (8).
• Keep evidence: tracking pages, delivery notes and photos of packaging damage help if a dispute follows.
• Use the payment route: if the seller does not refund, our guide to Section 75 and chargeback explains the card-based options.

How this fits with other rights

A pushchair that arrives on time but is defective is dealt with under other parts of the Act, covered in our guide to faulty pushchair rights. A buyer who simply changes their mind after delivery has a separate right, explained in our guide to the 14-day cancellation right.

Questions readers often ask

Who pays if the parcel is lost?

Under section 29, the goods stay at the trader’s risk until they reach the consumer or a person the consumer identified, apart from the carrier exception above.

The bottom line

Under section 28 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must deliver a pram without undue delay and within 30 days of the contract unless another time was agreed. If delivery is refused, or was essential, the buyer can treat the contract as at an end at once and must be reimbursed without undue delay. Otherwise the buyer can set a reasonable final date and then end the contract. Under section 29, the goods stay at the trader’s risk until they reach the buyer, so loss or damage in transit is the retailer’s problem.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 28 (Delivery of goods)
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 29 (Passing of risk)

Star ratings are often the fastest way to compare budget pushchairs, and a high score can tip a buying decision. UK law now speaks directly to whether those ratings can be trusted. This guide sets out what the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says about fake reviews under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act), and what that means for a shopper comparing prams. The rules apply across the UK and concern the traders who publish reviews, not the shopper.

What the law bans

Schedule 20 to the DMCC Act lists commercial practices that are unfair in all circumstances. Paragraph 13 covers reviews and bans:

• submitting, or commissioning someone else to submit, a fake consumer review or a review that conceals the fact it has been incentivised;
• publishing consumer reviews, or consumer review information, in a misleading way;
• publishing reviews or review information without taking reasonable and proportionate steps to prevent and remove fake, concealed incentivised or misleading content.

The Schedule defines a fake review as one that purports to be, but is not, based on a person’s genuine experience, and “consumer review information” as information derived from or influenced by reviews (legislation.gov.uk, Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Schedule 20). The CMA says the provisions apply to commercial practices from 6 April 2025 (CMA, “Unfair commercial practices” (CMA207)).

What counts as a review, and a fake one

The CMA’s guidance treats reviews broadly. They can be text such as a comment under a product listing, speech such as a video opinion, or graphic representations such as a star rating. Aggregated ratings, review counts and rankings are “consumer review information”. A fake review can be positive, boosting sales or rankings against rivals, or negative, aimed at undermining a product or trader. A review is not fake just because the trader disagrees with it, as long as it reflects the reviewer’s genuine experience (CMA, “Fake reviews guidance” (CMA208), chapter 2).

Incentivised reviews

An incentivised review is not banned by itself. The CMA says the problem arises when the fact is concealed, and it lists examples of incentives that can count: money, commissions, discounts or vouchers, and free or cheaper loans. For pram shoppers, the practical point is that a glowing review from someone who received a free pushchair or a voucher should be clearly identifiable as incentivised. Where a platform permits incentivised reviews, the CMA says the review must be clearly identifiable as such, and usually labelled prominently (CMA208, chapters 2 and 3).

Cherry-picking and suppressing reviews

The guidance also addresses how retailers present reviews. A trader may infringe the law by suppressing genuine negative or positive reviews or by selectively promoting some. The CMA says traders should not, for example, interfere with reviewers’ ability or willingness to leave negative reviews through threats of harm or legal action, or make an offer of dispute resolution depend on a customer not leaving a negative review. Cherry-picking can also happen by encouraging only satisfied customers to leave reviews, or by highlighting positive reviews that do not reflect the overall experience reported (CMA208, chapter 4).

When reviews of a different product are merged

The guidance describes “catalogue abuse”, sometimes called review hijacking or review merging, as presenting reviews of a different product as if they relate to the product a shopper is considering. It says consumers are most likely to be misled where reviews from different products are merged to boost one product’s rating and review count while there are material differences between them. Where the experience is likely to be materially the same across different specifications, sharing reviews is more likely to comply. For a pushchair sold in several frame or wheel configurations, that distinction matters, because a rating may relate to a different model from the one on screen (CMA208, chapter 4).

Star ratings that are not updated

Publishing review information in a misleading way includes displaying a star rating or review count based on aggregated reviews without addressing the effect of fake reviews, for example by failing promptly to update the rating and count after reviews have been identified and removed as fake. (CMA208, chapter 5).

Practical checks when comparing pushchairs

The law places obligations on the businesses that publish reviews, so no shopper is expected to detect fakes alone. Some sensible habits follow from the guidance, though:

• Look for labels: reviews written in exchange for a free product or a discount should be identifiable as incentivised.
• Check which product a review refers to: where a listing covers several versions, look at whether the review text describes the version being bought.
• Read the negative reviews too: the CMA treats hiding or removing genuine negative reviews as a potential breach, so a listing with only glowing feedback deserves a second look.
• Use safety information separately: a review is opinion, not a safety test. Our guide to reading a pram’s labels explains what the required markings say.

Questions readers often ask

Is a review fake if it is negative and the seller disagrees?

No. The CMA says a review is not fake just because the trader does not like it, provided it reflects the reviewer’s genuine experience.

Are reviews in exchange for a free pushchair illegal?

Not in themselves. The ban applies to reviews that conceal the fact they were incentivised.

The bottom line

Since 6 April 2025, UK law bans submitting or commissioning fake reviews, concealing that a review was incentivised, publishing review information in a misleading way and failing to take reasonable steps against fake reviews. The CMA’s guidance covers cherry-picking, merging reviews of different products and outdated star ratings. Shoppers comparing budget prams can therefore expect incentivised reviews to be labelled and ratings to reflect genuine experience, but should still read negative reviews and check which model a review describes.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Schedule 20
• CMA, “Fake reviews guidance” (CMA208), PDF (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
• CMA, “Unfair commercial practices” (CMA207) (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Consumer rights”

Retailers often offer to split the cost of a travel system or pushchair into instalments at checkout. Until recently, the interest-free kind of “Buy Now Pay Later” was largely unregulated. This guide explains what the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says changed on 15 July 2026, what still falls outside the rules and what to check at the checkout. It applies across the UK and is general information, not financial advice.

What was regulated on 15 July 2026

The FCA says it started regulating Deferred Payment Credit, often known as Buy Now Pay Later, on 15 July 2026. It describes two types of Buy Now Pay Later: one that charges interest, or charges interest if the customer does not repay within a set time, and Deferred Payment Credit (DPC), which is an interest-free form of credit repayable in 12 or fewer instalments over 12 months or less. Before 15 July 2026, DPC agreements were not regulated, so lenders did not need to be authorised by the FCA or follow its rules (FCA, “Buy Now Pay Later”).

The FCA’s press release explains that “BNPL” is a broad term that can include credit agreements that were already regulated, and that the new final rules cover the previously unregulated agreements, which legislation calls deferred payment credit (FCA, “New protections confirmed for Buy Now Pay Later borrowers”).

What lenders now have to do

According to the FCA, lenders must follow its rules for DPC from 15 July 2026. The FCA lists these protections:

• Affordability: lenders need to check whether the customer can afford to repay before an agreement is taken out. The press release describes the checks as proportionate.
• Information: lenders must give key information beforehand, including the amount borrowed, when repayments are due, how much they will be, how much any late fee will be, and the rights and protections the customer has.
• Support: lenders must provide support to customers who are struggling to repay, and where appropriate, direct them to free debt advice.
• Complaints: a customer unhappy with a lender should first ask the lender to put things right, and can then complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The FCA’s press release adds that BNPL is subject to the Consumer Duty and that lenders need to be authorised by the FCA to provide it.

What is not regulated

The new protections have limits, and the FCA sets them out:

• DPC is regulated where the lender and the supplier of the goods are different businesses. If a buyer uses DPC provided by the same business that sells the item, it is not regulated. The FCA’s press release describes this as the exemption for “merchant own credit”, a decision the Government made in 2024.
• Any DPC agreement taken out before 15 July 2026 remains unregulated, and the new protections do not apply to it.

For a pram buyer, this means that the same checkout button can lead to different legal positions. A pushchair paid for through a third-party lender is within the regime, whereas a retailer’s own instalment plan is not. Which applies depends on who the lender is.

Checking the lender is authorised

The FCA advises checking a DPC lender on its Firm Checker. The steps are to search for the firm by name, select the service “Borrowing money, including credit card lending and credit information”, and confirm the firm is “Authorised” with permission to “Lend you money on an unsecured basis”. If a lender is not yet authorised, it may still be able to offer DPC under the FCA’s temporary permissions regime, and the FCA publishes a register of those lenders. A lender in that regime must follow the FCA’s rules for agreements made from 15 July.

Section 75 and refunds

The FCA states that if something goes wrong with goods bought using DPC, the customer may be able to get a refund from the lender, because Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act is available, the same protection as when paying by credit card. Our guide to paying for a pram by card explains how Section 75 works and where its limits lie. A buyer with a faulty pushchair still has rights against the retailer as well, as set out in our guide to faulty pushchairs.

What to look at before choosing instalments

• The total price: compare the instalment total with the cash price, remembering that delivery must be included in the advertised price, as covered in our guide to advertised pram prices.
• Late fees: the FCA says lenders must now state how much any late fee will be, so it is possible to see the cost of a missed instalment in advance.
• Affordability: the FCA reminds consumers that BNPL is borrowing, and that they should make sure they can afford the repayments.
• Help: anyone struggling with money can get guidance from MoneyHelper, and use its Debt Advice Locator tool to find free services.

Questions readers often ask

Is a pram bought on interest-free instalments now protected?

If the lender is a different business from the seller and the agreement began on or after 15 July 2026, the FCA says it falls within the regulation.

Can a buyer still cancel the order?

The right to cancel an online order is a separate matter, covered in our guide to the 14-day cancellation right.

The bottom line

Since 15 July 2026, the FCA has regulated interest-free Buy Now Pay Later (deferred payment credit) when the lender and the seller are different businesses. Lenders must check affordability, give clear information, support customers in difficulty and accept complaints that can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and Section 75 refund protection is available. A retailer’s own instalment plan and any agreement made before that date remain outside the new rules, so checking who the lender is comes first.

Sources

• FCA, “Buy Now Pay Later” (fca.org.uk)
• FCA, “New protections confirmed for Buy Now Pay Later borrowers” (fca.org.uk)

Buying a pram online means buying without seeing the frame, folding it or lifting it into a boot. The law gives online shoppers a separate right to change their mind, which is different from the rights that apply when a pushchair turns out to be faulty. This guide explains that change-of-mind right using the wording of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, which the legislation site shows as applying across the UK. It is general information, not legal advice.

Change of mind versus a faulty pushchair

The two rights work differently. A fault is dealt with under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, as explained in our guide to faulty pushchair rights. The right discussed here is for a buyer who simply decides the pram is not what they want. Regulation 29 says the consumer may cancel a distance or off-premises contract at any time in the cancellation period, without giving any reason and without liability except in the limited cases the regulation lists (legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 29). Online and telephone orders are the typical distance contracts, so a pram bought in a shop is generally outside this right unless the shop has its own returns policy.

When the 14 days start

For a sales contract, the cancellation period ends 14 days after the day on which the goods come into the physical possession of the consumer, or of someone else named by the consumer to take them, other than the carrier. Where several items in one order arrive on different days, the period runs to 14 days after the last item arrives (legislation.gov.uk, regulation 30). GOV.UK’s business guidance says the customer can cancel up to 14 days after the order is delivered, and that if a seller has not told the customer about the right to cancel, the customer can cancel at any time in the following 12 months (GOV.UK, “Consumer contracts regulations”).

How to cancel

The buyer must inform the trader of the decision. Regulation 32 allows either a form following the model cancellation form or any other clear statement setting out the decision to cancel. A buyer who sends the notice before the period ends is treated as having cancelled in time, and in a dispute it is for the consumer to show the contract was cancelled within the period (legislation.gov.uk, regulation 32). Sending the message in writing and keeping a dated copy therefore makes practical sense.

Sending the pushchair back

Once a buyer has cancelled, regulation 35 sets out what happens to the goods:

• the trader must collect the goods if it has offered to do so;
• otherwise, the consumer must send the goods back or hand them over without undue delay, and no later than 14 days after telling the trader about the cancellation;
• the consumer bears the direct cost of returning the goods, unless the trader has agreed to bear it or failed to give the required information about who pays;
• the consumer is not required to bear any other cost of returning goods.

Because a pushchair is bulky, who pays for the return is worth checking in the seller’s terms before ordering (legislation.gov.uk, regulation 35).

Refunds and how quickly they are due

Under regulation 34, the trader must reimburse all payments other than delivery payments, and must also refund the standard delivery charge unless the buyer chose a more expensive kind of delivery than the cheapest common and generally acceptable option. Reimbursement must be made without undue delay and, where the trader has not offered to collect the goods, no later than 14 days after the earlier of two dates: the day the trader receives the goods back, or the day the consumer supplies evidence of having sent them back. It must use the same means of payment as the original transaction unless the buyer agrees otherwise, with no fee for the refund (legislation.gov.uk, regulation 34).

Proof of postage is worth keeping, because it can start the refund clock before the goods arrive back. For card purchases, our guide to Section 75 and chargeback covers what happens if a refund is not paid.

Handling the pram before returning it

The Regulations allow a trader to recover an amount if the value of the goods has been diminished by handling beyond what is necessary to establish their nature, characteristics and functioning. The Regulations describe this as handling that goes beyond the sort of handling that might reasonably be allowed in a shop, and the deduction cannot exceed the contract price. A trader who failed to give the buyer the required information about the right to cancel cannot make this deduction (regulation 34).

Exceptions

Regulation 28 lists goods for which the right does not apply. The most relevant for baby gear is the supply of goods made to the consumer’s specifications or clearly personalised (legislation.gov.uk, regulation 28). A buyer ordering something engraved or made to order should check the seller’s terms before relying on the 14 days.

Questions readers often ask

Can a seller keep the delivery charge?

Not the standard delivery charge, under regulation 34, though it may retain the difference if the buyer chose a more expensive delivery option.

The bottom line

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, a pram or pushchair bought online can be cancelled without giving a reason within 14 days after the goods arrive. The buyer must give clear notice, send the pushchair back within 14 days of that notice and normally pays the direct cost of return unless the trader agreed to bear it or failed to explain. The trader must refund the price and standard delivery within 14 days of the goods coming back, or of evidence of posting, and may deduct for handling beyond what a shop would allow.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 28
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 29
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 32
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 34
• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 35
• GOV.UK, “Consumer contracts regulations”

Comparing prams and pushchairs across shops often means comparing an advertised price plus a delivery fee that appears later in the checkout. Since April 2025, UK law has been explicit that traders must show the total price up front. This guide explains what the rules require, so that budget shoppers know what to expect from an advert, a product page or a shelf label.

The law and when it started

The rules sit in Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) calls the unfair commercial practices provisions. The CMA’s guidance says they apply to commercial practices that take place from 6 April 2025 onwards, and describes ‘drip pricing’ as one of the practices given a new, more detailed prohibition (CMA, “Unfair commercial practices” (CMA207)). The relevant section of the Act, section 230, extends to the whole UK, so the same rule applies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (legislation.gov.uk, Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, section 230).

What counts as an advert for these purposes

The CMA’s price transparency guidance says that when a trader tells a customer about a product and its price, that is normally an ‘invitation to purchase’. That can be a price on a product in a shop, a newspaper or TV advert, online marketing such as an email or social media post, or a page on a website. It does not have to include an opportunity to buy on the spot (CMA, “Providing clear and accurate information about prices: summary” (CMA209)). A pram shown on a retailer’s category page, in a paid social advert or on a shop shelf is therefore covered.

The total price must include mandatory charges

Section 230 lists the information an invitation to purchase must not leave out, and the total price of the product is on the list. The Act says the total price includes any fees, taxes, charges or other payments that the consumer will necessarily incur if they buy the product. The CMA summary adds that the total price should normally include unavoidable charges, and that showing them separately will not normally be enough. It gives delivery or booking fees and VAT as examples of mandatory charges.

Delivery charges: mandatory versus optional

Pushchairs are bulky items, so delivery is often the largest extra cost. The CMA summary sets out how delivery must be handled:

• Mandatory delivery charges must be included in the invitation to purchase, and if they can reasonably be calculated, in the total price as well.
• Optional delivery charges, such as next-day delivery, must be included in the invitation to purchase but do not have to be part of the total cost and can be shown separately.
• Where the buyer must choose between delivery options, the total price should include the cheapest option until the customer chooses a different one.
• Charges that vary, for example by the customer’s location, must be accompanied by enough information for the customer to calculate the total, and that information must be as prominent as the headline price.

Running totals at the basket

The CMA says a retail website may comply by prominently showing the delivery fees it charges and by providing a running total, including those fees, throughout the purchase process. That total must be presented clearly and at a time the customer is likely to see it. This is the mechanism behind a basket that shows item price plus delivery as you add items.

‘From’ prices and other special cases

The CMA says an indicative or ‘from’ price is allowed as long as it includes all applicable mandatory charges and does not mislead about what the price covers. It also says that taking payment in instalments is not affected: providing the total price up front does not stop a trader accepting the price in instalments. A mandatory flat per-transaction fee must be included in the total price even in early-stage advertising.

What happens if a trader gets it wrong

According to the CMA summary, a trader found to have broken the law could be fined up to 10% of its turnover or £300,000, whichever is greater, and ordered to compensate affected customers. The guidance stresses that it applies to anyone who sells, advertises, markets or otherwise promotes a product at any point in the purchase process, from early-stage advertising to the final sale.

Shopping tips for a pram budget

• Compare the total including delivery, not the headline price alone, especially when one retailer offers free delivery and another charges a fixed fee.
• Check whether an extra, such as express delivery, is genuinely optional. Optional charges may be shown separately, but a mandatory charge should be in the price.
• If the delivery cost depends on a postcode, look for the information that lets you work it out next to the price.
• Keep a screenshot of the advertised price and the basket total. A mismatch is evidence if a complaint is needed.
• Where a price does not match the checkout, GOV.UK’s consumer rights page lists the helplines for advice by nation: Citizens Advice, Advice Direct Scotland and Consumerline (GOV.UK, “Consumer rights”).

Once a purchase is made, our guides on faulty pushchair rights and paying by card explain what protection follows.

The bottom line

Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, in force for practices from 6 April 2025 and applying across the UK, a pram’s advertised price must include unavoidable charges such as VAT and mandatory delivery fees. Optional extras like next-day delivery can be shown separately, variable delivery costs must be explained as prominently as the price, and a retailer can comply with a running basket total. Comparing the full cost, delivery included, is the reliable way to spot the cheapest pushchair.

Sources

• CMA, “Unfair commercial practices” (CMA207) (gov.uk)
• CMA, “Providing clear and accurate information about prices: summary” (CMA209) (gov.uk)
• legislation.gov.uk, Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, section 230
• GOV.UK, “Consumer rights”

How a pram or pushchair is paid for can matter as much as which one is chosen. If the seller goes out of business, never delivers, or supplies something faulty, the payment method can decide whether there is a second route to a refund beyond the seller itself. Two protections are relevant: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which applies to certain credit purchases, and chargeback, a card scheme process. This guide explains how each works, drawing on the legislation and on the Financial Ombudsman Service and Citizens Advice.

Section 75: a legal right against the card provider

Section 75 lets a buyer who used credit make a claim against the credit provider as well as the seller. Under the Act, if a buyer has a claim against the supplier for misrepresentation or breach of contract on a transaction financed by a qualifying credit agreement, they have a like claim against the creditor, who is jointly and severally liable with the supplier (legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75). The section applies across the UK. It does not cover a claim relating to a single item to which the supplier has attached a cash price of £100 or less, or more than £30,000.

The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that what matters is the cash price of the goods, not the amount paid on the card, so Section 75 applies even if only part of the payment was made by credit card. It applies where some or all of the cost was paid by credit card, with a point-of-sale loan or with certain catalogue shopping accounts, and where the cash price is more than £100 but not more than £30,000. It does not apply if payment was by debit card or charge card, or by cash, credit card cheque or bank transfer (Financial Ombudsman Service, “Problems with goods and services bought using a debit card or credit (Section 75 and chargeback)”).

What that means for a pushchair purchase

• A pram costing £250 paid by credit card: Section 75 can apply, because the price is within the range.
• A £90 pushchair paid by credit card: Section 75 does not apply, because the single item is priced at £100 or less.
• A £250 pram with £50 paid by credit card and the rest by another method: Section 75 can still apply, and the claim can be for the full amount, according to Citizens Advice’s worked example of a £250 oven paid partly by credit card and partly by cash.

Citizens Advice adds that the £100 and £30,000 limits relate to the single item being claimed for, not the whole order. It also says Section 75 usually cannot be used where the buyer did not buy directly from the trader, for example through an online marketplace, a voucher site, a payment wallet or a travel agent, although the card provider may still be asked. In that case it advises asking for chargeback instead (Citizens Advice, “Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal”). That page is written for England, with separate versions for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Chargeback: a card scheme process, not a statutory right

The Financial Ombudsman Service describes chargeback as a way to challenge and claw back payments made by debit or credit card, available only in certain circumstances. The bank or lender will ask for supporting evidence. Each of the main card schemes, Visa, Mastercard and American Express, has different chargeback rules, so the details should be checked with the card provider. The Ombudsman adds that a bank or lender does not have to raise a chargeback, and that chargebacks can fail.

The reasons it lists as often valid include goods that do not match the description, goods that never arrived, goods that arrived broken or defective, a promised refund that never came, and a supply cancelled in line with the supplier’s policy but not refunded. It says people usually have around 120 days to raise a chargeback, from the date they expected the goods and did not receive them or the date they received something defective or not as described, though time limits may be longer or shorter depending on the circumstances.

What chargeback can and cannot recover

Citizens Advice says a chargeback covers only what was paid by that card, not what was paid by other methods. Its example is a faulty washing machine bought for £250 with a £50 card deposit and £200 in cash: chargeback would recover the £50, while a credit card claim under Section 75 would probably recover more. It adds that the trader can challenge a refund even after the money is returned.

Contact the seller first

Citizens Advice advises that it is usually best to contact the trader first, following any complaints procedure, and preferably by email or letter with a copy kept. If the trader cannot be contacted or will not help, the next step is to ask the card provider. A buyer using a buy now, pay later provider should check that provider’s help first. The Ombudsman likewise says a buyer should be ready with receipts, terms and conditions, and marketing material such as screenshots, and that a chargeback claim usually requires showing an attempt to resolve the problem with the supplier.

Tying it back to the law on faults

The Ombudsman notes that Section 75 sits within wider consumer rights, and that a lender considering a claim would look at relevant consumer law, likely including the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Our guide to faulty pushchair rights sets out those statutory remedies.

The bottom line

Paying for a pram by credit card can give a second route to a refund under Section 75, but only where the single item costs more than £100 and up to £30,000 and the purchase was made directly from the trader. Debit card payments rely on chargeback, a card scheme process with a time limit of around 120 days that can fail. Contact the seller first, keep evidence, and ask the card provider for help if the seller cannot or will not fix the problem.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75
• Financial Ombudsman Service, “Problems with goods and services bought using a debit card or credit (Section 75 and chargeback)” (financial-ombudsman.org.uk)
• Citizens Advice, “Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal” (citizensadvice.org.uk)

London’s public transport network is where a pushchair’s size, weight and fold are tested most often, and Transport for London (TfL) publishes both binding rules and buying advice for buggy users. This guide summarises what TfL says about buses, the Tube and rail, escalators and lifts, and what it recommends looking for when choosing a buggy for the network. It applies to TfL services in London; other operators elsewhere have their own rules.

Buses: the 70 by 120 cm rule

TfL’s Conditions of Carriage, in the version dated 22 October 2025, state that all its bus services are accessible for passengers with buggies up to an unfolded width of 70 cm and a length of 120 cm. Wheelchair and mobility scooter users have priority over everyone else for the wheelchair space, and a buggy user may be asked to fold up to allow them to use it. TfL reserves the right to refuse travel if the driver considers that the buggy exceeds those dimensions, or that the bus is so crowded that there is no room to travel safely with a buggy. It adds that refusal will happen only when absolutely necessary and that no one already travelling will be asked to get off (Transport for London, “Conditions of Carriage for Bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line Services”).

The Conditions also say that, where possible, passengers with a buggy must board at the front of the bus, though the centre doors may be used with the driver’s permission. An unfolded buggy should be positioned safely within the designated area during the journey and must not be placed in the aisle.

What TfL’s buggy guidance adds

TfL’s “Getting around with your buggy” page says all London bus routes are served by low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses, and that drivers can lower the bus so it is level with the kerb. It advises folding the buggy if it is too wide for the doors and aisle. Double buggy users may board through the back exit doors, but should check with the driver first. When a wheelchair user is not using the wheelchair space, buggy users can use it on a first come, first served basis, but should share the space, fold or move if a wheelchair user wishes to board. TfL says a passenger who chooses to leave the bus in that situation may be able to use its Hopper fare to board the next bus at no cost (Transport for London, “Getting around with your buggy”).

The same page includes general safety advice for all transport: make sure the child is securely fastened, keep the brake on whenever the buggy is stationary, never leave it unattended, and consider getting on and off backwards, especially where there is a step.

Tube and rail

According to TfL, most Tube trains have multipurpose areas suitable for buggies, with the exceptions of the Central, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines. Many trains also have wheelchair spaces that buggy users may use if available but must give up when needed by a wheelchair user. TfL advises using a lift wherever one is available, taking extra care on escalators, not rushing when doors are closing, and being careful of steps into the train. It also warns about thin grooves in the door runners on some trains, especially where a pushchair has thin wheels.

Escalators: a firm rule for doubles and tandems

Under the Conditions of Carriage, a buggy can be taken on rail services at any time, including on moving escalators. A double or tandem buggy, however, must be folded before using a moving escalator, and if it cannot be folded it must not be used on one. The Conditions say a lift should be used rather than a moving escalator where available. Passengers may also be asked to fold a folding buggy, and items must be ones the passenger can carry unaided, including on stairs and escalators. Staff at stations may help carry buggies on stairs, TfL says, but they are not always able to, and will ask passengers to carry the child and fold the buggy.

Other TfL services

• Taxis: TfL says all taxis have an intermediate step and a ramp to help with buggies, and drivers should be asked to provide it.
• River services: buggies are welcome on Thames Clippers River Bus services, boarded by ramp, and the crew help find a safe place; a buggy is folded only if necessary.
• London Cable Car: folding buggies are permitted if not placed on seats and if they do not block gangways, lifts or passages.

What TfL recommends when buying

TfL’s page “Best buggies for public transport” sets out three considerations for a buyer who expects to use the network:

• Size: small and compact both standing and folded, so it can pass through buses, share the wheelchair priority space with wheelchair users, other buggies, trolleys, mobility aids or assistance dogs, and fit into station lifts.
• Foldability: space is sometimes limited on services, so a buggy that is easy to fold is preferable.
• Weight, comfort and manoeuvrability: a buggy may need to be lifted onto trains and carried up and down steps, so it should be lightweight, and safe, with good balance, suspension and manoeuvrability (Transport for London, “Best buggies for public transport”).

A quick pre-purchase check

• Measure the unfolded width and length of the pushchair against 70 cm and 120 cm.
• Try folding it one-handed and one-person, in the shop, as it may be needed in a crowded carriage.
• If choosing a double or tandem, remember it cannot be used on a moving escalator unless folded.
• Weigh the folded buggy against how far it may need to be carried. Our guide to pushchair weight and portability looks at this in more detail.

The bottom line

On TfL services in London, buses accept buggies up to 70 cm wide and 120 cm long unfolded, wheelchair and mobility scooter users have priority for the wheelchair space, and unfolded buggies must stay out of the aisle. Double and tandem buggies must be folded to use a moving escalator, and lifts are preferred. TfL’s own buying advice is to choose a buggy that is compact, easy to fold and light, with good balance and manoeuvrability.

Sources

• Transport for London, “Conditions of Carriage for Bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line Services” (content.tfl.gov.uk)
• Transport for London, “Getting around with your buggy” (tfl.gov.uk)
• Transport for London, “Best buggies for public transport” (tfl.gov.uk)