On the home equipment finder where possible we have linked to 3 or more suggested products. We try to link to equipment providers who offer VAT relief, or are from well known, trusted retailers like:
- B&Q
- Argos
- John Lewis
- Boots
- Currys
Sometimes we link to smaller equipment providers or sites like Amazon. These have items not found at the larger retailers or equipment stores to give a wider choice. Please check these products, where they are coming from, and check the reviews of them.
Please read our disclaimer.
Check to see if you can get VAT relief
If you have a
- disability
- long term illness
that meets the requirements you won't have to pay VAT on products for personal or domestic use.
You have a disability or a long term illness if:
- you have a physical or mental condition that makes daily tasks harder. For example blindness
- you have a condition that’s treated as chronic sickness, like diabetes
- you have a terminal illness
You do not qualify if you are elderly but not disabled, or if your disability is temporary.
Products designed or adapted for a disability include:
- adjustable beds
- stairlifts
- alarms
- reclining chairs
- some medical and surgical appliances
Online retailers usually say next to the price if the equipment qualifies for VAT relief. VAT is currently 20%. Find out more about financial help if you have a disability.
Compare prices and read reviews
- try to get 2 or 3 quotes from different shops or equipment providers to compare before you buy
- look through a list of health and care equipment providers on Connect to Support Surrey
- check if the website or shop is a member of:
- some equipment will have a European safety standard (Conformite Europeene) CE kitemark
- if they have a British Standards Institute (BSI) mark this means they have tested and approved them
Do some research
- read reviews. Please bear in mind that some reviews could be fake. Have they signed up to Trustpilot where you can read verified reviews?
- are there videos of people using or reviewing the same or similar product?
- does the shop or equipment provider offer a guarantee?
What to think about
- can you get help with major adaptations?
- check if health and care equipment providers have a shop where you could go and test equipment. For example CareCo has showrooms in Camberley, Croydon and Hayes
- check if the shop or retailer lists an address or only a telephone or chat function in case you need to return an item
- check what the prices includes. Does it include:
- maintenance
- assembly
- any after care
- do they charge extra for delivery or returns
- if possible check before buying that the equipment or smart tech is easy for you to use
- do they have a trial period?
- are there clear instructions to use it?
- what is the after sales support?
- do they offer any training on using your new equipment or smart tech?
Stay safe online
- unless you will be shopping often don’t create an account. Check out as a guest
- if you do create an account, make sure you use a strong password that you haven’t used before
- make sure the URL starts with https. This means the site is secure and is safer to use
- check there is a lock icon somewhere on the browser bar. This says the connection between the browser and website is secure
- never give your PIN (Personal Identification Number) when you pay online
- the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may protect you if you pay with your credit card
- if you pay by debit card then you may be able to ask your bank to reverse the transaction
- PayPal can also offer some protection
- MoneyHelper has information on chargeback protection
- Surrey Trading Standards can help if you feel uneasy or worried about fraud and scams
- if someone tricks you into paying money, tell your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud as a crime
If your equipment or smart tech doesn’t work
- look what the returns policy is. Different shops and equipment providers have different policies
- Citizen’s Advice consumer service can help with things like faulty goods
Not sure how to set smart tech up
These services and organisations can help with using smart tech:
- Tech Angels from Surrey Coalition of Disabled People. Their service is not available in Elmbridge, Woking and Spelthorne. They can help with:
- borrowing devices
- digital literacy training
- confidence boosting using IT
- various how to guides, for example:
- video conferencing
- connecting your android device to a wifi network
- listening to Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) books using Dolphin Easyreader
- setting up Amazon Echo
- various easy read guides
- you can get help from a Digital Buddy. Run by, and held, in Surrey Libraries. Buddies help with ipads, smart phones and tablets.
- AbilityNet gives free help to older people and people with a disability. They also give help to people with Parkinson’s. They can help you get online and use digital devices. They can come to your home or help you on the phone.
- Sight for Surrey offers help with assistive technology including:
- screen reading
- screen magnification
- smartphones and tablets
- smart speaker
- provides tutorials and handouts. Runs a resource centre which can help people with sight or hearing impairment
- Digital Surrey is a one stop shop for finding digital support across Surrey
- Connect to Support Surrey lists places which offer computer lessons and courses