What are your rights when something you bought turns out to be faulty?

In the UK, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you statutory rights against the retailer — not the manufacturer — whenever you buy goods as a consumer from a business. These rights exist automatically and cannot be removed by a shop's own returns policy, no matter what a sign says.

Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If they are not, the remedies are structured by time:

Within 30 days you have the short-term right to reject — a full refund, and the retailer cannot insist on repairing or replacing it first. This is the strongest window and it is short.

After 30 days and within six months the retailer gets one opportunity to repair or replace. If that fails, you can claim a refund, which may be reduced for use. Importantly, in this period a fault is presumed to have been present at purchase unless the retailer can prove otherwise — the burden is on them.

After six months the same remedies remain available but the burden reverses: you must show the fault was inherent rather than caused by wear or misuse. Claims can be brought for up to six years in England and Wales, five in Scotland — though this is a limitation period, not a guarantee that goods last that long.

Some things worth knowing:

A warranty or guarantee is extra, not a replacement. Your statutory rights stand alongside it, and are often better.

"No refunds" signs are unenforceable against faulty goods.

Online purchases add rights. Distance selling rules generally give a 14-day cooling-off period to change your mind for any reason, separate from faults.

Digital content and services have their own equivalent standards under the same Act.

General information; consumer law differs outside the UK.