With faulty goods, can I demand my money back at once?
Usually not at once — the order is set by law. First, the seller must remedy the non-conformity free of charge and within a reasonable time, or replace the item — unless that is impossible or disproportionate. Only then, if they fail to do so within a reasonable time or the replacement causes inconvenience, may you demand a price reduction or cancellation of the contract with a refund — unless the defect is minor. The deadlines: a claim can be brought within two years of receiving the goods, but within two months of the day you discovered the defect.
📋 The rules
- First — repair or replacement, free of charge
- Only then — a price reduction or a refund
- No refund where the defect is minor
- A claim can be brought within 2 years
- But within 2 months of discovering it
🔓 Exceptions
- Where repair or replacement is impossible or disproportionate, another remedy can be sought at once
- The seller must reply to your written application within 15 working days
- Contract terms restricting these rights do not bind the consumer
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The two-month deadline is the one people miss. A claim may be brought within two years of receiving the goods — but it must be made within two months of the day you discovered the defect. Do not sit on it in the belief that there is "still time". The seller must reply to your application within 15 working days. And do not accept "that is our policy": contract or shop terms that restrict or exclude your statutory claim rights do not bind you — they are unfair terms. If the seller does not reply or refuses, the next step is the Consumer Dispute Resolution Commission.
📎 Official sources
- PTAC · Non-conforming goods →
- likumi.lv · Consumer Rights Protection Law →
- LV portāls · Faulty goods and consumer rights →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I demand a refund straight away?
Usually not. The seller must first remedy the defect free of charge within a reasonable time, or replace the item. A refund becomes available only where that is not done or is impossible.
How long do I have to claim?
Two years from receiving the goods. But the claim must be brought within two months of the day you discovered the defect — and that is the deadline most people miss.
How long does the seller have to reply?
Fifteen working days to answer a consumer's written application. Silence is not an answer, and it is itself a ground for taking the matter further.
What counts as a minor defect?
One where cancelling the contract would be disproportionate. In that case a refund is not available, but you can still require the defect to be remedied or the price reduced.
Can the shop limit my rights?
It cannot. Contract or shop terms that restrict or exclude your statutory claim rights do not bind you as a consumer — they are treated as unfair terms.
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