Can I return faulty goods in Cyprus?
It depends: yes for faulty goods (2-year guarantee); change-of-mind only for online purchases. New goods carry a free 2-year legal guarantee for defects; second-hand goods 1 year. If goods are faulty, the seller must repair or replace free of charge, or give a price reduction or refund. Distance/online contracts have a 14-day cooling-off right to withdraw for any reason. There is no general right to return for change of mind in a physical shop. The Consumer Protection Service enforces. In short: faulty goods yes, change of mind only online.
📋 The rules
- New: 2-year guarantee; second-hand 1 year
- Defect: repair/replacement free, then refund
- Online: 14-day withdrawal with no reason
- Shop: no general change-of-mind right
- Enforced by the Consumer Protection Service
🔓 Exceptions
- 14-day doesn't apply to custom/personalised/hygiene items
- Within the guarantee: burden of proof on the seller for a period
- A maker's warranty is additional, can't reduce the 2 years
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Traders refusing lawful remedies can be reported to the Consumer Protection Service, which can impose administrative fines and order compliance; ADR/EU dispute platforms are available. Beware a myth: "I have 14 days to return anything I buy in a shop" is false — the 14-day cooling-off applies only to distance/online purchases, not to goods bought in a physical store. Tip: keep the receipt; for a defect within the guarantee, the burden of proof is on the seller for a period after delivery.
📎 Official sources
- katanalotis.org.cy · purchases & warranties →
- Your Europe (EU) · guarantees →
- gov.cy · consumer protection →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I return a faulty product?
Yes. New goods carry a 2-year legal guarantee for defects, and second-hand goods one year. If the product is faulty or not as described, the seller must repair or replace it free of charge, or give a price reduction or refund.
Do I have a change-of-mind right?
Not generally in a physical shop. There's no legal right to return for change of mind on an in-store purchase; any such returns are a goodwill policy. For online purchases, however, there's a right of withdrawal.
How long is the online withdrawal right?
For distance and online purchases you have a 14-day cooling-off period with no reason needed. You must return the goods within 14 days of notifying the trader and get a full refund.
What exceptions apply online?
The 14-day withdrawal doesn't apply to certain items, such as custom-made or personalised goods, sealed health or hygiene items once unsealed, perishables and digital content once it has started downloading or streaming.
What do I do if the seller refuses?
You can report the seller to the Consumer Protection Service, which can impose administrative fines and order compliance. There are also alternative dispute resolution platforms for consumer cases.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “return product cyprus”
- “2 year guarantee cyprus”
- “online purchase withdrawal cyprus”
- “faulty product cyprus”
- “consumer rights cyprus”
- “change of mind return cyprus”