Legal advice
Get legal advice when you need it
You can access our legal advice helpline 24/7*.
Advice and support, always available
Supporting a client through long-term absence
Our customer called us after suffering with ongoing health issues. Unfortunately, these health issues had led to considerable time away from the workplace and she had received an invitation to an absence review meeting. She was very anxious about what this meant and what her employer could do in relation to her absence.
Our advisers were able to provide guidance to her on the typical process an employer would use in managing long term absence. We were able to prepare our insured for subsequent meetings that her employer may invite her to and inform her of their purpose and satisfy her that it would be usual to receive a request from an employee for consent to get a medical report from a GP or to make an occupational health referral.
Helping a caravan owner understand their legal options
We recently spoke with a customer who had purchased a new caravan eighteen months ago. During its annual service, it was discovered that there were unacceptable levels of damp inside the caravan.
We were able to discuss with him whether he had rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 that he could rely on. We also pointed him towards the warranty that provided additional rights allowing him to insist the dealer carried out the necessary remedial work.
Resolving an online retailer refund dispute
Our customer purchased a tent from an online retailer. When it arrived, our insured changed his mind on the suitability of the tent. The retailer told him that all sales were final. He got in touch with ARAG.
We confirmed to our customer that the contract was considered a distance contract and as such, he had 14 days from the day he received the tent to decide to cancel and notify the retailer, and a further 14 days to send the goods back to them. When notifying the retailer of his right to cancel, he was also able to inform them that the law offered him the right to reimbursement without undue delay. He felt it was important to assert his rights due to the earlier misinformation relating to final sales. Our customer successfully received a prompt refund once the tent was returned.
Supporting a witness in court proceedings
Our customer was involved in a road traffic accident with a third party. The police charged the third party with dangerous driving and our customer received a summons to court and wanted to understand more about what she would be required to do.
After she explained the document she received, we were able to confirm that it appeared to be a witness summons. Further, we advised her on the Magistrate’s Court process, what was required of her and what expenses she would be able to claim.
Recovering a license fee for published artwork
Our customer works as an artist. She was contacted by a national publication who were retrospectively asking for her permission to publish an image she had taken of one of her sculptures.
She was advised by us to invoice the publication for a license as they had already published the image she had taken. She was further advised by us to re-issue the invoice once it became apparent the size of the image, they had printed was much larger than the size they had ask for her permission for. Eventually the publication paid a license fee to her, settling the matter.
Disclaimer
*Legal advice is available 24/7 in England and Wales only; advice in other jurisdictions is available 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays.