What are your return rights?

It’s always handy to know but not everyone exercises their return rights…

If you in-store or online goods that are faulty, not as described or unfit for purpose, you have the right to return them. You also have additional rights when you shop online.

Returns policies 

Most retailers offer a goodwill returns policy where you can exchange, refund or credit note for most returns.

You can usually find information on the backs of your receipts about that specific stores return policy.

You usually have 28 days to return a non-faulty item, at Christmas time this can often be longer if you ask for a gift receipt.

Check stores returns policies

When buying anything in-store, it is helpful to ask what their returns policy is . Shops are not required by law to have a returns policy but if they do then they must stick to it.

Sports Direct choose not to give refunds but will give a credit note which can only be spent in their store.

George at Asda offer a 100 day quality guarantee on their clothing. If Asda customers aren’t completely satisfied with the quality of any item bought from the supermarket range, they are entitled to a full refund regardless of how many times it may have been washed or worn.

Faulty goods

If faulty goods are returned within 30 days then you are entitled to an automatic refund. Anything over 30 days then you must give the retailer the chance to repair or replace it.

Is there anything I can’t get a refund on?

Most retailers have policies which say that they will accept non-faulty returns, as long as items are unused and in perfect condition with their undamaged original packaging, however, there are some returns exceptions worth knowing about…

• DVDs and music  Many retailers will refuse returns if the seal or packaging has been broken.
• Perishable items  You won’t usually be able to return an item if it’s perishable. This includes food and flowers.
• Made to order  If an item has been made to order or personalised it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to return it.

Can I return without a receipt?

In most shops you can return without a receipt within 28 days however you will only receive an exchange or a credit note rather than a refund.

I bought something online but now want to return it

Thanks to the ‘distance selling regulation 2014’ you have the right to return items bought online.

When you buy goods online you have additional rights to return them.

This is because your decision to buy was probably based on a brief description or a photograph – and it may not have lived up to your expectations or as advertised when it arrived.

Because of this, you have 14 days to return anything you buy online for any reason. You will be entitled to a full refund.

Does everyone exercise their return rights?

Unfortunately not. I think too many people don’t get around to returning their goods, forgetting about them, embaressed etc.

Last year, £1.2bn was lost in Britain by consumers who didn’t exercise their consumer rights!