[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/UK Warranty and Returns Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 UKConsumer productsRegulation guide # UK Warranty and Returns Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 In the UK, a consumer's core protection when a product breaks doesn't come from a manufacturer's written warranty — it comes from statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 that exist automatically on every sale. A written warranty adds to those rights; it can never take them away. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fuk-warranty-consumer-rights-act) At a glance Statute Consumer Rights Act 2015 Core standard Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, as described Short-term right to reject 30 days from delivery Repair/replace tier One repair or replacement attempt Final remedy Price reduction or final right to reject ## The statutory baseline every sale carries ### Three core quality standards Goods sold to a UK consumer must be of satisfactory quality, fit for any particular purpose made known to the seller, and as described — these apply automatically by law and cannot be excluded or reduced by a seller’s terms and conditions. ### The 30-day short-term right to reject A consumer generally has 30 days from delivery to reject faulty goods and get a full refund, without first having to accept a repair or replacement — one of the more consumer-favorable features compared to some other jurisdictions. ### The tiered remedy structure after 30 days After the short-term right expires, the consumer’s first remedy is typically one repair or replacement; if that does not resolve the fault, the consumer can then seek a price reduction or exercise a final right to reject, generally within six months of the original short-term right period unless the seller can show otherwise. ## Where a written warranty fits in ### A warranty is additional, not a substitute A manufacturer or seller's written warranty sits on top of the statutory Consumer Rights Act protections — it cannot lawfully be used to reduce, replace, or make the consumer waive their statutory rights, even if the warranty document doesn't say so explicitly. ### Commercial guarantee wording rules If you offer a commercial guarantee (a warranty beyond the statutory minimum), UK consumer law requires the guarantee terms to be set out clearly, and — for goods over a certain period of validity — to be provided in writing on request, including duration, territorial scope, and the guarantor's name and address. ### The reversed burden of proof For roughly the first six months after delivery, a fault is presumed to have existed at the time of delivery unless the seller can prove otherwise — the practical effect is that the seller, not the consumer, generally carries the burden of showing a product was not faulty when sold. ## Building compliant warranty and returns terms 01 Do not write terms and conditions that appear to limit or exclude the statutory 30-day right to reject or the tiered repair/replacement/refund remedy — such terms are generally unenforceable and invite regulator scrutiny. 02 If offering a commercial guarantee, state its duration, geographic scope, and the guarantor’s identity and contact details clearly, and make the full terms available on request. 03 Train customer service on the difference between your commercial warranty period and the underlying statutory rights — a customer outside a one-year warranty may still have a valid Consumer Rights Act claim. 04 Document fault investigations carefully within the first six months after delivery, given the reversed burden of proof during that period. 05 Make return and refund processes for the 30-day short-term right straightforward — friction here is a common source of consumer complaints and Trading Standards attention. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I offer a "no returns" policy on hardware sales in the UK? No, not for faulty goods. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives consumers statutory rights to reject faulty goods and pursue remedies regardless of a seller’s stated returns policy — a blanket "no returns" policy cannot override these rights for goods that are faulty, not fit for purpose, or not as described. ### Does the 30-day right to reject apply to every product? It applies broadly to goods sold to consumers, though there are some product-specific nuances (for example, around digital content or services bundled with goods). For standard hardware and consumer electronics, the 30-day short-term right to reject faulty goods is the default rule. ### What has to be in a written commercial guarantee? UK consumer law requires a guarantee to be set out in plain, intelligible language and, on request, provided in writing (or another durable medium) stating its duration, territorial scope, and the name and address of the guarantor — vague marketing language like "lifetime guarantee" without these details can fall short of the requirement. ### Who has to prove whether a fault existed at the time of sale? For roughly the first six months after delivery, the law presumes the fault existed at delivery unless the seller can show otherwise — a reversal of the ordinary burden of proof that sellers should factor into their fault-investigation and dispute-handling process. **Disclaimer:** This page is an educational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. Consumer Rights Act obligations are detailed and fact-specific — consult qualified counsel before finalizing warranty, returns, or terms-of-sale language for the UK market. 🇬🇧 UK roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇬🇧 UK compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/09-ukca-marking-for-electronics-products)[Prefer to read? 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