Rights & Consumer
Consumer Rights Ireland
Irish consumer law gives you rights that do not depend on a shop's returns policy, and a shop's returns policy gives you some that the law does not. Knowing which is which is usually the whole argument. These tools walk through what you bought, when, and what went wrong, then set out the rights that may apply and link to the official source for each one.
Most used
Is this rent increase legal?
Check a proposed increase against Rent Pressure Zone rules and RTB notice periods.
Rent Increase CheckerNewIs this quote reasonable?
Break a trade quote into labour, materials and VAT and compare it to benchmark ranges.
Quote CheckerNewWhat are my rights on this purchase?
Answer six questions about what you bought and see the Irish rights that may apply.
Consumer Rights CheckerEverything else in rights & consumer
What redundancy am I owed?
Statutory redundancy entitlement and how ex-gratia payments are taxed.
Redundancy Pay CalculatorNewAm I entitled to a refund?
Online, in-store, faulty, change of mind, services and digital content — what the law gives you.
Refund & Return CheckerNewDo I need the extended warranty?
What a guarantee adds to your statutory rights, and what it usually does not.
Warranty vs GuaranteeNewCan I take this to the Small Claims procedure?
Whether your dispute looks eligible, what it costs, and where to file.
Small Claims CheckerNewWho should I actually complain to?
The right Irish regulator, ombudsman or body for your complaint, with the official link.
Complaint Route FinderIs my employer following the law?
Minimum wage, breaks, holidays, notice and payslips measured against Irish rules.
Employee Rights CheckerWhat has my PRSI actually bought me?
The benefits your PRSI class and contribution record may entitle you to.
PRSI Benefits CheckerHow long will a passport take?
Current turnaround times, fees and what a first-time application needs.
Passport HelperDo I need a visa for Ireland?
Entry requirements by nationality and purpose of travel.
Visa RequirementsIs this Eircode valid?
Validate an Eircode and see the routing key it belongs to.
Eircode CheckerRights & Consumer in Ireland — what to know
Irish consumer law gives you rights that do not depend on a shop’s returns policy, and a returns policy gives you some the law does not. Almost every dispute at a customer service desk comes down to confusing the two.
What the law actually gives you
The Consumer Rights Act 2022 requires goods sold by a trader to be of satisfactory quality, fit for their usual purpose and as described. Within 30 days of delivery you can generally reject faulty goods outright. For twelve months, a fault that appears is presumed to have been there at delivery and it is for the trader to prove otherwise — which is the single most useful provision in the Act and the least known. The consumer rights checker works through what applies to a specific purchase.
Refunds and returns
Distance sales — online, by phone, at your door — carry a 14-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel for any reason at all. In-store purchases do not. The refund checker separates the two and lists the exceptions, which catch out more people than the rule does: personalised goods, perishables, unsealed media and services booked for a specific date are all outside it.
Guarantees and warranties
A guarantee is a free, voluntary promise. An extended warranty is a paid product, usually an insurance contract. Both sit on top of your statutory rights and neither can reduce them — a trader pointing at an expired guarantee as a reason your rights have ended is simply wrong. The warranty checker works out what a paid policy costs per extra year beyond what you already have.
When the trader will not engage
For amounts up to €2,000, the Small Claims Procedure costs €25, needs no solicitor, and is designed to be used by a consumer directly. A great many claims settle at the Registrar stage, which is frequently the first time the complaint reaches somebody with authority to resolve it. For a regulated sector, the complaint route finder names the ombudsman or regulator that covers it — all of which are free.
At work
Employment rights are enforced by the Workplace Relations Commission, and most complaints carry a six-month time limit from the date of the issue. The employee rights checker measures pay, breaks, holidays, notice and payslips against the statutory minimums, and the redundancy calculator works out statutory entitlement and how an ex-gratia payment is taxed.
Common questions
How long do I have to return faulty goods in Ireland?
You generally have 30 days from delivery to reject faulty goods and ask for a refund without having to accept a repair first. After that a repair or replacement is normally the first remedy, and a claim can be brought within six years — though after twelve months you have to show the fault existed at delivery.
Can I return something because I changed my mind?
Online, by phone or at your door — yes, generally within 14 days of delivery, for any reason. In a shop — no, not as a legal right. Most Irish retailers offer returns as a matter of policy, and that policy is what applies.
Is an extended warranty worth buying?
Usually not for the first two years, because your statutory rights and the manufacturer guarantee already cover most of what would go wrong. The warranty checker works out what it costs per extra year of cover and how likely a claim would have to be for it to pay for itself.
Who do I complain to about a bank, an airline or a utility?
Each regulated sector has its own body — the FSPO for financial services, the Commission for Aviation Regulation for flights from Ireland, the CRU for energy, ComReg for telecoms. All are free. The complaint route finder names the right one and links to its complaints page.
Looking for something else?
Type the question rather than the tool name — the search matches on what each tool answers.