📦 Can I return faulty goods in Ireland?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes — you have strong rights to a remedy when goods are faulty. The Consumer Rights Act 2022 covers goods bought on or after 29 November 2022. If a fault appears within the first 30 days, you have a short-term right to reject the goods and get a full refund. After 30 days you can choose a free repair or replacement, done within reasonable time and without significant inconvenience. A fault appearing within the first 12 months is automatically presumed to have been there at purchase, so the trader must prove otherwise. You have up to 6 years to seek a remedy, and refunds must be issued within 14 days, in the same form as your original payment. It's the seller, not the manufacturer, who must put it right. In short: yes — refund, repair or replacement depending on timing.

📋 The rules

Fault within 30 days: full refund (right to reject)
After 30 days: free repair or replacement
Fault within 12 months presumed pre-existing
Up to 6 years to seek a remedy
Refund within 14 days, same payment form

🔓 Exceptions

The 30-day window is shorter for perishable/short-shelf-life goods
Minor faults may entitle you only to a price reduction
Digital content and services have a parallel remedy regime

⚠️ Penalties & fines

This is remedy law, not fines: a 30-day right to reject, a 12-month reversed burden of proof, a 6-year claim limit, and a 14-day refund deadline. The remedy hierarchy is: within 30 days a full refund; after 30 days a repair or replacement; and if that's impossible, too costly, not done in reasonable time, fails again or the fault is serious, a price reduction or full refund. You can escalate through the Small Claims Procedure or a card chargeback. Beware two myths: "no receipt, no refund" and "store credit only" are both wrong — proof of purchase can be any reasonable evidence, refunds must be in the original payment form (you can refuse a voucher), and "no returns" signs can't override your statutory rights. To claim: go to the seller, state the remedy you want, and use the Small Claims Procedure if refused.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Can I get a refund on faulty goods?

Yes. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, if a fault appears within the first 30 days you have a short-term right to reject the goods and get a full refund. After 30 days, you're entitled to a free repair or replacement, and if that fails or isn't possible, you can then seek a price reduction or a refund.

Who is responsible — the shop or the manufacturer?

The seller you bought from is responsible for putting things right, not the manufacturer. So you should go back to the shop or website that sold you the item, even if there's a separate manufacturer's guarantee. The trader can't send you off to the manufacturer to avoid dealing with a faulty-goods claim.

Do I need the receipt?

Not necessarily. 'No receipt, no refund' is a myth. You do need proof of purchase, but that can be any reasonable evidence that you bought the item from that seller — such as a bank or card statement, or other records. The key is showing where and when you bought it, not specifically a paper receipt.

Can the shop just give me a voucher?

No, not if you're entitled to a refund. A refund must be given in the same form as your original payment, so if you paid by card or cash you're entitled to your money back, not a credit note or voucher. You can refuse store credit where you have a right to a cash or card refund.

How long do my rights last?

You generally have up to six years to pursue a remedy for faulty goods. On top of that, any fault that appears within the first 12 months is automatically presumed to have been present at the time of purchase, which puts the burden on the trader to prove otherwise rather than on you.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“can i return faulty goods ireland”
“consumer rights act 2022 ireland”
“30 day refund ireland”
“faulty goods refund repair replace”
“no receipt no refund myth”
“small claims ireland faulty goods”