30-Day Right to Reject Faulty Goods (Consumer Rights Act 2015)
Formal letter exercising the short-term right to reject defective goods and demanding a full refund under section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
When to use this template
Use this letter within 30 days of purchasing goods (or within 30 days of delivery if later) when the goods do not conform to contract — that is, they are not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose, or not as described. The 30-day short-term right to reject entitles you to a full refund without deduction. After 30 days, the remedy shifts to repair or replacement first.
When NOT to use this template
Do not use this template after the 30-day short-term period has expired — you will lose the automatic refund right, though repair or replacement rights continue for up to six years under s.19 CRA 2015. This template applies only to goods purchased from a trader as a consumer; it does not apply to private sales between individuals.
Legal Basis
Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.9 (satisfactory quality), s.10 (fitness for purpose), s.11 (as described), and s.20 (right to reject — short-term right). The short-term right to reject applies within 30 days of ownership or delivery (whichever is later). The trader must issue a full refund within 14 days of receiving the rejected goods.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Waiting too long — the 30-day clock runs from the date you took ownership or the goods were delivered, not from when you noticed the fault
- ✗Accepting a repair or replacement offer from the trader, which may waive the short-term right to a full refund
- ✗Not keeping evidence of the fault — take photographs or video before returning the goods
- ✗Failing to state clearly that you are 'rejecting' the goods — vague language may be interpreted as a complaint rather than rejection
- ✗Paying return postage costs — the trader bears the cost of collection or return for faulty goods
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Letter preview
[YOUR FULL NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS] [DATE OF LETTER] [TRADER / RETAILER NAME] [TRADER'S ADDRESS] Order/Invoice Reference: [ORDER OR INVOICE REFERENCE NUMBER] --- Dear Sir or Madam, **NOTICE OF REJECTION — CONSUMER RIGHTS ACT 2015, SECTION 20** I am writing to exercise my statutory short-term right to reject the goods described below, pursuant to section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. **The Goods** Description: [DESCRIPTION OF THE GOODS] Date of purchase: [DATE OF PURCHASE] Purchase price: £[PURCHASE PRICE (£)] Order or invoice reference: [ORDER OR INVOICE REFERENCE NUMBER] **The Defect** The goods do not conform to contract for the following reason(s): [DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT OR NON-CONFORMITY] This constitutes a breach of the statutory right to receive goods of satisfactory quality under section 9 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 [and/or fitness for purpose under section 10 / not as described under section 11 — delete as appropriate]. **Notice of Rejection** I am formally rejecting these goods and treating the contract as at an end. I am not requesting a repair or replacement. Under section 20(7) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, I am entitled to a full refund of the purchase price without any deduction. **My Requirements** I require you to: 1. Arrange collection of the rejected goods at your cost, or provide a pre-paid returns label within 7 days of this letter. 2. Issue a full refund of £[PURCHASE PRICE (£)] to the original payment method within 14 days of receiving the returned goods. Please confirm your arrangement for collection / returns by return. If I do not hear from you within 14 days I will consider my options, which may include a county court claim and/or a complaint to the relevant ADR scheme or Trading Standards. Yours faithfully, [YOUR FULL NAME]
Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.