UK Return Rights Checker

Enter when and where you bought, and see which legal window you’re in right now.

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General information for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland differs slightly on final time limits) — not legal advice. Some goods, e.g. perishables and personalised items, are excluded from the cooling-off right.

Two different laws, two different clocks

UK return rights come from two places, and mixing them up is the most common mistake. If you simply changed your mind, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 apply — but only to online, phone and mail-order purchases. You get 14 days from delivery to cancel for any reason, then 14 more to return the goods. Buy the same item in a shop and no such right exists at all: in-store returns of unwanted goods are pure store policy, which is why keeping the receipt matters.

Faulty goods are much stronger ground

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described — bought anywhere. In the first 30 days you can reject a faulty item outright for a full refund. From 30 days to six months, the retailer gets one chance at a repair or replacement, and crucially the law presumes the fault was there when you bought it. After six months you can still claim for up to six years, but the burden of proof flips to you.

Practicalities that decide cases

Your contract is always with the retailer, not the manufacturer — do not let a shop redirect you to a warranty line to escape its legal obligations. A manufacturer’s warranty is a bonus on top of these rights, never a replacement for them. And every route — rejection, repair, warranty claim — depends on proving when and where you bought the thing, which is exactly the paperwork that vanishes when you need it most. Keep receipts, keep serial numbers, and note the dates.

How it works

The checker counts the days since your purchase or delivery date, then applies the rule that fits how you bought and why you are returning. If you changed your mind about something bought online, by phone or by mail order, you are inside the cooling-off period for 14 days from delivery, and then have a further 14 days to send the goods back. If you bought it in a shop, there is no legal right to return unwanted goods, so it points you to the shop’s own policy.

If the item is faulty, it uses the Consumer Rights Act 2015 stages: up to 30 days, the short-term right to reject for a full refund; up to six months, repair or replacement, with the fault presumed to have been there from the start; after that, a claim is still possible for up to six years (five in Scotland), but you need to show the fault was there when you bought it.

Worked examples

Bought online, changed my mind, delivered 9 days agoYou can still cancel — day 9 of 14
Bought in a shop, changed my mindNo automatic right — store policy
Faulty, bought 20 days agoShort-term right to reject
Faulty, bought 50 days agoRepair or replacement window
Faulty, bought eight months agoLate-stage claim — proof on you

The same fault can therefore mean a straight refund, a repair, or an argument about evidence, depending only on the date. That is why the purchase date and proof of where you bought are worth keeping for everything that costs real money.

General information about consumer law in the UK, not legal advice. For help with a specific problem, contact Citizens Advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to return something bought online in the UK?

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 you have 14 days from delivery to tell the seller you want to cancel, and then another 14 days to send the goods back. The right covers most goods bought online, by phone or by mail order, but some are excluded — including perishable goods, personalised items, and sealed hygiene products once unsealed.

Can I return something to a shop because I changed my mind?

Not as a legal right. For goods bought in person, returning something you simply do not want depends entirely on the shop’s own returns policy. Most shops offer one, often with conditions, so keep the receipt and the item in its original condition until you are sure.

What are my rights if something I bought is faulty?

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, wherever you bought them. Within 30 days you can reject a faulty item for a full refund. After that, the retailer normally gets one chance to repair or replace it before you can ask for a refund or a price reduction.

Do I need a receipt to return a faulty item?

You need proof of purchase, but it does not have to be the till receipt. A bank or card statement, an order confirmation or a similar record showing when and where you bought the item is usually enough.

Should I contact the retailer or the manufacturer?

The retailer. Your contract is with the seller, so your statutory rights are against them, not the manufacturer. A manufacturer’s warranty is an extra you can use alongside those rights, never a replacement for them.

Are the rules different in Scotland?

The consumer rights themselves are the same across the UK. What differs is the time limit for pursuing a claim: generally up to six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland.

Warranty Box keeps every receipt, warranty and return deadline in one place and reminds you before a window closes. Offline, no account.

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