The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects you whenever you buy goods, download digital content, or pay for services from a business.

It sets minimum legal standards that traders must meet — and it gives you clear, structured remedies if those standards are not met.

For a broader overview of the law, see Consumer Rights Act 2015 Overview.

Protection When You Buy Goods

When you buy physical goods — whether in store or online — the law says they must:

  • Be of satisfactory quality.
  • Be fit for purpose.
  • Be as described.

This applies to everything from household appliances to clothing, furniture, electronics, and vehicles.

If Goods Are Faulty

The Act gives you a step-by-step remedy system:

1. Short-Term Right to Reject

You normally have 30 days from delivery to reject faulty goods and claim a full refund.

See Short-Term Right to Reject.

2. Repair or Replacement

After 30 days, the trader usually gets one chance to repair or replace the goods.

See Repair or Replacement.

3. Final Right to Reject or Price Reduction

If repair or replacement fails, you can reject the goods or keep them for a reduced price.

See Goods Remedies – Final Right to Reject or Price Reduction.

The law also protects you if goods are delivered late, damaged before delivery, or sold without the trader having the right to sell them.

Protection When You Pay for Services

If you hire someone to carry out work — such as building work, car repairs, plumbing, professional advice, or beauty treatments — the Act applies.

Services must:

  • Be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
  • Be completed within a reasonable time (if no timeframe agreed)
  • Be charged at a reasonable price (if no price agreed)

If a Service Is Poor

You are entitled to:

Repeat Performance

The trader must redo the work properly, at no extra cost.

Price Reduction

If the service cannot be fixed, or fixing it would cause significant inconvenience, you can demand a price reduction — potentially up to 100 percent.

See Services – Your Rights.

Protection for Digital Content

The Act was the first UK law to clearly protect digital purchases such as:

  • Apps.
  • Downloaded games.
  • Music downloads.
  • Streaming services.
  • Software.

Digital content must:

  • Be of satisfactory quality.
  • Be fit for purpose.
  • Be as described.

If Digital Content Is Faulty

Your remedies are:

  • Repair or replacement first.
  • Price reduction or refund if that fails.
  • Compensation if it damages your device.

See Digital Content – Your Rights.

Protection from Unfair Contract Terms

The Act also prevents businesses from hiding unfair terms in small print.

A term is unfair if it creates a significant imbalance in favour of the trader or attempts to remove your statutory rights.

For example:

  • “No refunds under any circumstances”
  • Hidden cancellation penalties.
  • Terms allowing unlimited price changes without notice.

If a term is unfair, it is not legally binding.

See Unfair Terms – What the Law Says.

Extra Protection If You Paid by Card

If you paid by credit card for a purchase between £100 and £30,000, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 may make your card provider jointly responsible.

This gives you an additional route to claim if the trader refuses to cooperate.

See What Is Section 75? and How Section 75 and the Consumer Rights Act Interact.

In Simple Terms

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects you by:

  • Setting clear standards businesses must meet.
  • Giving you structured remedies when things go wrong.
  • Preventing traders from removing your legal rights.
  • Allowing escalation to ADR or court if necessary.

It gives you enforceable rights — not just guidance.