If only some of the goods you bought are faulty, you do not always have to reject everything.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you may be entitled to reject only the goods that do not conform to the contract.

For the legal standards goods must meet, see What Statutory Rights Apply to Goods?.

Something gone wrong?

Know your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and put it in writing.

What Is Partial Rejection?

Partial rejection means:

  • You reject some or all of the faulty goods, and
  • You keep the goods that meet the contract.

If you choose partial rejection, you can’t pick out goods that conform to the contract and reject those too. Only goods that don’t conform can be rejected this way.

That’s different from rejecting the whole contract. If you’re entitled to reject, you can instead reject all of the goods, both faulty and non-faulty, and treat the contract as at an end. So your options are to reject everything, to reject all the faulty items, or to reject just some of the faulty items and keep the rest.

When Does Partial Rejection Apply?

This usually applies where:

  • You bought multiple items in one order.
  • Only some of the items are faulty.
  • The goods are capable of being separated.

If the goods form a “commercial unit”, you cannot reject part of it without rejecting all of it. A commercial unit is a set of goods where splitting them up would materially impair the value of the goods or the character of the unit. For example, if one chair in a three-piece suite is faulty, you can’t reject just that chair. You would need to reject the whole suite, or keep it and use another remedy such as repair or replacement.

Instalment Deliveries

If goods are delivered in instalments that are paid for separately (a “severable” contract) and one instalment is faulty, you may be able to reject that instalment only. Within that instalment, you can reject some or all of the faulty goods, but not the goods that conform.

Whether you can reject the entire contract depends on:

  • The seriousness of the fault.
  • The terms of the contract.
  • The overall circumstances.

How to Partially Reject Goods

You must clearly inform the trader which goods you are rejecting.

This can be done by what you say or do, but written confirmation is recommended.

You can state:

  • “These specific goods do not conform to the contract.”
  • “I am rejecting these items under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.”

Refunds for Partial Rejection

You are entitled to a refund for the goods you reject.

The trader must:

  • Refund the relevant amount.
  • Do so within 14 days of agreeing you are entitled to a refund.
  • Use the original payment method unless agreed otherwise.
  • Cover reasonable return costs.

Time Limits

If you are within the first 30 days, you may use the Short-Term Right to Reject for the faulty goods.

If more than 30 days have passed, you may first need to allow a Repair or Replacement before moving to the Final Right to Reject or Price Reduction.

For how the six-month presumption works, see Time Limits and the 6-Month Rule.

If the Trader Refuses

If the trader refuses to accept partial rejection, you can:

Key Point

If only part of your order is faulty, you may not have to reject everything. You can reject the defective goods and keep the rest, unless they form a commercial unit. If you’re entitled to reject, you can also choose to reject the whole order instead.