University Challenges: Travelling Abroad – Handy Hints

It is essential to plan well before any trip abroad – especially one that could entail weeks/ months away.  Arriving in a foreign country is always exciting but it can be daunting too!  When things are unfamiliar it’s important to do a little preparation before you go, and to remember a few common-sense points while you are there.

Here are a few handy hints…

Get adequate insurance

Accidents, illness or emergencies CAN happen to you so make sure you get comprehensive travel and medical insurance before setting-off. Shop around, think about activities you may be doing, even spur of moment ones, and make sure you’re covered for these. Your policy also needs to cover all your medical and repatriation costs. If you do not take out proper insurance, you will normally have to pay the costs of any emergency yourself, including expensive medical bills.

If you’re travelling within the European Economic Area or Switzerland make sure you get a free European health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to some reduced or free emergency medical care – but you will still need travel insurance.

Check visas and passports

If you are a British citizen it is a legal requirement to have a valid 10-year passport when  travelling abroad, even for just a day trip.  If you do not currently have a passport, apply in good time; the Home Office recommend applying 6 weeks before your date of travel. If you leave it late you will end up paying a lot more via their ‘fast track’ application procedures, or even be forced to miss out altogether on your trip.

Some countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period (usually at least six months) beyond the date of entry to the country. Any questions on this should be addressed to the Consulate or Embassy of the country to which you are travelling.

In the UK, you can get advice about applying from the Home Office at www.ips.gov.uk or call them on 0300 222 0000 (lines are open 24 hours a day).

You may also require a visa to enter the country you are going to. Check visa requirements with your travel agent or contact the Consulate or Embassy of the country you plan to visit.

Make a note of your passport number, date and place of issue (or take a photocopy), and keep separately in a safe place. Make sure you fill in your emergency contact details in the passport. This will make it much easier for officials to contact someone on your behalf if necessary.

If you lose your passport you should get advice from the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.  Their staff can issue emergency passports if appropriate.

Staying healthy

Make a visit to your GP at least six weeks before you depart and find out what jabs you may need. You could also go online at www.dh.gov.uk/travellers and check the Department of Health’s advice.  Take an adequate supply of any prescribed medicine with you and keep it to hand.

Check whether it’s safe to drink local tap water- if not, stick to bottled water and avoid salads, non-peeling fruit and ice in drinks.

If you think you’ll be having sex then always carry a condom – and use it! Ensure you pack a supply before you go as they are not always as readily available abroad and quality can differ depending on where you are going.

Obtain local knowledge, stay safe.

Get a good guidebook and carry out some research into your destination before you go. Speak to any friends or relatives who have visited your destination country and ask them about their travelling experiences there.  Get their advice on areas to visit.

Try to find out about local customs and dress.  If you dress in clothes that blend in with the crowds, you’re less likely to become a target of crime or be hassled. Its probably a good idea not to openly display valuables such as mobile phones or digital cameras, you don’t want to lead others into temptation!

Be aware of what is going on around you and keep away from situations that make you feel uncomfortable. Avoid potentially dangerous ‘no-go’ areas, in particular after dark.

Check for any Foreign Office travel advice on your destination country before you go at www.fco.gov.uk/travel or call 0845 850 2829.

Be careful with alcohol & drugs

When it comes to alcohol, make sure you know your limit. You’re more likely to have an accident if you’re drunk and probably won’t be covered by your insurance.  Furthermore, many countries have less tolerant attitudes towards alcohol and drunkenness than Britain;-  you may find that conduct considered relatively trivial or inoffensive in Britain may cause great offence to the locals or even land you in hot water with the local police.
Penalties for using or supplying drugs can often be harsh. In many countries you could be imprisoned in grim conditions, fined; or deported for offences that may have incurred a lesser charge in the UK. Remember that if you are arrested abroad you are subject to the laws of that country, being a British Citizen wont keep you out of jail!

Take enough money

Work out how much money you’ll need on a daily basis and work to a realistic budget. Be sure to take enough money as no-one will send you home for free if you run out!

Book your first night’s accommodation

At the very least, make sure you have booked your first night’s accommodation in advance. You are at your most vulnerable when you first arrive in a foreign country. You are likely to be tired and unsure of your surroundings – so it’s worth planning ahead.

Keep in touch

Tell friends and family your plans before you go and keep in regular contact, especially if you change your plans. Consider taking a roam-enabled mobile and use text or email to keep in contact. Don’t promise too much – promising to call home every day is unrealistic and will only cause your family and friends to worry when you don’t!.

Have a good trip!

Student Advice Centre
1st Floor Falmer House
www.ussu.info/advice
advice@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
01273 877038

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Christmas shoppers beware!

Christmas is nearly upon us & (unless you’ve been super organised) many of us will be manically buying last minute presents for family & friends over the next few weeks. Whether you’re buying from shops, over the internet or ordering from catalogues, it’s important to know what your rights are as a customer & what you can do if things go wrong.

Buying goods from a shop or street market:

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) states that any goods you buy from a trader must:

• be of a satisfactory quality & safe;
• be of a satisfactory quality & safe;
• not be damaged or defective unless the person selling them to you points out a fault or the fault would have been noticed if you had examined the goods before buying (note however that sale or ‘seconds’ goods can be sold with a defect);
• be fit for the purpose for which the seller knows you are buying them
• be as they are described by the seller, or on the package or display sign.

If any goods you buy are faulty at the time of sale you are legally entitled to request a full refund (note however that this remedy is only available if the goods have not already been ‘accepted’ i.e. you’ve told the retailer that you’ve accepted them, you’ve acted in a way that implies you’ve accepted them such as making alterations or you’ve kept them for longer than a ‘reasonable’ amount of time); compensation (damages) usually based on the cost of repair; repair or replacement; rescission or a reduction in price. If none of these remedies work you may also be able to make a County Court claim.

If there was nothing wrong with the goods that you bought you have no legal right to take it back. Many shops do operate an exchange or refund policy however that allows you take such items back – always check before buying if you think you might change your mind!

If you’re buying from a private seller you have far fewer rights but the item must still be as described – if not, ask for your money back straight away. Likewise you have fewer rights if you buy something secondhand. The seller is not liable for reasonable wear and tear and the price will be taken into consideration when assessing if goods were of a reasonable quality.

Buying goods over the Internet or from a catalogue:

The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 & the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 provide you with certain rights when you are shopping at a distance. These rights include the right to:

• clear information about the goods, the trader, payment & delivery arrangements, the existence of a right to cancel and any other relevant information before you place an order;
• written confirmation of your order (by email, fax or letter) along with additional information such as a contact postal address once you’ve placed your order
• a ‘cooling off period’ (generally 7 working days after placing an order) during which you can cancel your order (note however that certain goods cannot be cancelled such as food, personalised items and sealed CDs/DVDs that you’ve received and opened)
• protection against credit card fraud

If any goods are faulty (or develop a fault in the first 6 months), are not as described or are of unsatisfactory quality you can return them and are legally entitled to a full refund plus the cost of returning the goods. Alternatively you can ask for a repair or a replacement. If you receive goods that you didn’t even order (known as unsolicited goods) you are under no obligation to pay for them and can keep them. You are also entitled to a refund if the goods don’t arrive by an agreed date or are not what you actually ordered. Beware however if a trader goes out of business. If you’ve paid for but not received an order you are generally only likely to get your money back if the item cost more than £100 and you paid by credit card – in which case your credit card issuer will usually be liable to refund you.

If you’re buying new goods from an Internet auction site you normally have the same rights as when you buy goods elsewhere. Some Internet auctions however are actually only notice boards between private sellers and buyers, in which case you have far fewer rights although the goods must still be as described.

And finally, Christmas is often a time when we get carried away & spend far more than we can really afford but overspending will only lead to money problems that will last far longer than Christmas itself. Have a look below for some tips on ways to save money when doing your Christmas shopping:

• decide how much you can afford to spend & don’t spend more
• make a list & stick to it
• shop around & compare prices
• make use of online discount vouchers & promotional codes
• redeem any shop loyalty card points for gifts
• wait for the sales & get stuff cheaper

If you encounter any problems when shopping this Christmas, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 (www.consumerdirectgov.uk) or come along to a drop-in at the Student Advice Centre.

Student Advice Centre
1st Floor Falmer House
www.ussu.info/advice
advice@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
01273 877038

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