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Christmas tips from Which? Legal Service - the early Christmas shopping bird doesn't always catch the worm

19 October 2006

You may think you are being organised and even getting a bargain starting your shopping early but, if you are buying gifts, don’t think you have a legal right to take them back and get a refund if they are unwanted or broken. There is no legal right to return unwanted gifts.

Christmas early bird checklist:

  1. Check whether the shop has a returns policy;
  2. If there is no policy notice in the shop, presume there is no returns policy;
  3. If you are verbally told you can return the goods, and there is no written policy, ask the assistant to write it on the receipt;
  4. If there is a returns policy, check carefully what is says you must do if you return the item eg:
    - do you need to provide proof of purchase;
    - do you need to keep the receipt
    - does it need to be returned in the original packaging
    - can it only be returned unopened?
  5. If you are buying on-line, you have only seven working days from the day after receipt of the goods to return them, and you will need to check what postage/packing you may be liable for;
  6. If you buying for a present, get the assistant to put the name of your friend or relative on the receipt (otherwise if things go wrong only the purchaser will have the right to change or get a refund where applicable) or ask for a gift receipt;
  7. Remember, if the goods are broken, you only have a short period of time to get a refund - usually 3-4 weeks from the date of purchase. After that, the chances are you will only be offered a repair.


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