If goods you bought do not meet the legal standards under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you may have a short-term right to reject them and receive a full refund.

This applies where goods are not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose, not as described, or otherwise do not conform to the contract. For the full legal standards, see What Statutory Rights Apply to Goods?.

What Is the Short-Term Right to Reject?

The short-term right to reject allows you to:

  • Reject the goods.
  • End the contract.
  • Receive a full refund.

This is usually available within the first 30 days after delivery.

When Does the 30-Day Period Start?

The 30 days normally begin when:

  • The goods are delivered, and
  • You take ownership or possession

If installation is part of the contract, the 30 days may begin after installation is completed.

For more detail on time limits and how they operate, see Time Limits and the 6-Month Rule.

What If a Repair Is Attempted?

If you request a repair or replacement within the 30-day period, the 30-day clock pauses while you wait.

If the goods are still faulty after repair or replacement, you have:

  • At least 7 days to reject, or
  • The remainder of the original 30-day period, whichever is longer

See also Repair or Replacement.

How Do You Reject the Goods?

You must clearly inform the trader that you are rejecting the goods and ending the contract.

This can be done in writing or verbally, but written confirmation is recommended.

You can say:

  • “The goods do not conform to the contract.”
  • “I am exercising my short-term right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.”

What Happens After Rejection?

Once you reject the goods:

  • The trader must refund you.
  • The refund must be given within 14 days of agreeing you are entitled to it.
  • The refund must be by the same payment method, unless agreed otherwise.
  • No fees can be charged for the refund.

You must make the goods available for collection or return them as agreed. The trader must usually cover reasonable return costs.

Partial Rejection

If only some of the goods are faulty, you may be able to reject just those items rather than the entire order.

See Partial Rejection for more detail.

If You Miss the 30-Day Deadline

If more than 30 days have passed, you may still have the right to:

  • Request a repair or replacement.
  • Use the final right to reject or request a price reduction if repair fails.

See Final Right to Reject / Price Reduction.

If the Trader Refuses

If a trader refuses to honour your short-term right to reject, you can:

Key Point

If goods are faulty within the first 30 days, you normally have a straightforward right to reject them and receive a full refund.