⚖️ Consumer Rights Checker
What are my rights on this purchase?
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. Knowing which is which is usually the whole argument. Six questions and this sets out what may apply.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
The Consumer Rights Act 2022 is the main source of these rights. It requires goods sold by a trader to be of satisfactory quality, fit for their usual purpose and as described, and it sets out what you can ask for when they are not: a short-term right to reject, then repair or replacement, then a price reduction or refund.
The twelve-month reversal of the burden of proof is the most useful provision in it and the least known. If a fault appears within twelve months of delivery, it is presumed to have been there at delivery, and it is for the trader to prove otherwise. Saying that out loud changes a lot of conversations at a customer service desk.
Your rights are against the trader who sold you the goods, not the manufacturer. Being told to contact the manufacturer is a common deflection and you do not have to accept it.
What affects the result
- Whether you bought from a trader or a private individual. Private sales carry far fewer protections.
- Whether the purchase was made at a distance, which brings the 14-day cooling-off period into play.
- How long ago it was. Thirty days, twelve months and six years are all meaningful thresholds.
- Whether the problem is a fault or a change of mind. They are governed by completely different rules.
- Whether a remedy has already been attempted and failed.
- Where the trader is based. EU, non-EU and Irish traders are in different positions on enforcement.
What are my rights on this purchase?
Write it down
The single most useful thing in any consumer dispute is a dated email. Describe the fault, say which remedy you want and why, and set a reasonable deadline. It costs nothing, it stops the conversation being about what was said on the phone, and it is what a small claims registrar will ask to see.
If the trader will not resolve it
For amounts up to €2,000, the Small Claims Procedure costs €25 and is designed to be used without a solicitor. For a regulated sector — banking, telecoms, energy, insurance — the complaint route finder names the body that handles it. For a trader elsewhere in the EU, the European Consumer Centre acts free of charge.
Related
If the question is specifically about returning something, the refund checker goes through each purchase type. If you are being sold an extended warranty, warranty vs guarantee explains what it adds to what you already have. And before paying for a repair, check whether it is worth it at all.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- The purchase was made for private use rather than for a business. Business-to-business purchases are governed by different rules.
- The Consumer Rights Act 2022 applies to contracts entered into from 29 November 2022. Older purchases are governed by the earlier legislation, which is broadly similar on quality but differs on remedies.
- Nothing here accounts for terms specifically agreed between you and the trader, or for a fault caused by misuse or accidental damage.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- CCPC — faulty goods
The state consumer body's own guidance on what to ask for when something is faulty and in what order.
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
The legislation itself — the source of the quality standard, the remedies and the twelve-month presumption.
- Citizens Information — consumer rights
Plain-English explanations of Irish consumer law and the bodies that enforce it.
- European Consumer Centre Ireland
Free help with disputes against traders in other EU countries.
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 the burden of proving the fault existed at delivery falls to you.
Can a shop refuse a refund and offer a credit note?
For faulty goods, within the first 30 days, you are generally entitled to reject them and receive a refund rather than a credit note. For a change of mind on an in-store purchase, the shop sets the policy and a credit note may be all that is offered — there is no statutory right to anything in that case.
Do I have to deal with the manufacturer?
No. Your contract is with the trader who sold you the goods, and your statutory rights are against them. A manufacturer's guarantee is an additional benefit that sits on top; it does not replace what the retailer owes you.
What if the shop says the guarantee has expired?
A guarantee expiring does not end your statutory rights. Those run for up to six years for the purposes of bringing a claim, though what remedy is reasonable depends on how long the goods should have lasted and how long you have had them.
Does this apply to something I bought second-hand?
From a trader, yes — though what counts as satisfactory quality takes account of the age, price and description. From a private individual, far less: the goods must match their description, but the rules on quality and fitness for purpose apply to traders.
What to check next
Am I entitled to a refund?
Online, in-store, faulty, change of mind, services and digital content — what the law gives you.
Refund & Return CheckerNewCan 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 FinderNewDo I need the extended warranty?
What a guarantee adds to your statutory rights, and what it usually does not.
Warranty vs GuaranteeNext steps across CheckIreland
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
- Specifically about a refund?Goes through each purchase type — online, in store, faulty, change of mind, service, digital.
- If the trader will not engage€25 for claims up to €2,000, and designed to be used without a solicitor.
- Who else can make them actRegulated sectors have their own ombudsman, and every one of them is free.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.