Consumer Rights
Consumer Rights Act 2015, online shopping, digital content, small claims court, fraud protection, debt collection, and product safety under UK law.
Covered in this guide:
If something you bought is faulty, late, or not as described, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you a 30-day right to reject, then a repair or replacement, then a refund. Online and doorstep purchases get a 14-day cooling-off under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Pay any part of £100–£30,000 by credit card and Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the bank jointly liable. The Data Protection Act 2018 covers your data. Small claims are not one UK-wide limit: up to £10,000 on the County Court small claims track in England and Wales, £5,000 under Scotland's Simple Procedure in the Sheriff Court, and £5,000 in the Northern Ireland small claims court. No lawyer needed in any of them.
Key Laws
Consumer Rights Act 2015
c. 15
Goods, services, and digital content standards
Consumer Credit Act 1974
c. 39
Credit agreements, Section 75 protection
Data Protection Act 2018
c. 12
UK GDPR, personal data rights
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
SI 2013/3134
14-day cooling-off for distance sales
Consumer Rights Act — Goods
When you buy goods from a trader (a business), they must be:Satisfactory quality — not faulty, damaged, or worn (considering the price and description)Fit for purpose — suitable for the purpose you...
Consumer Rights Act — Services
When you pay a trader for a service — plumber, decorator, mechanic, hairdresser, accountant — section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 implies three terms into the contract that can't be...
Consumer Rights Act — Digital Content
Digital content — apps, games, music, films, ebooks, software, and streaming services — has its own set of consumer rights:Digital content must be of satisfactory qualityIt must be fit for a...
Online Shopping Rights
Distance selling — online, phone, mail order — gets you extra protections that in-store purchases don't, because Parliament reckoned (rightly) that you ought to be able to actually see and handle...
Small Claims Court
The Small Claims Track of the County Court is the route most people take for everyday disputes — unpaid invoices, dodgy builders, refusing retailers. There is no single UK-wide limit — it handles...
Fraud and Scam Protection
UK fraud protection is a layered patchwork — partly because the categories of scam keep shifting and the law has had to play catch-up.Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974: probably the single...
Debt Collection Rights
Owing money doesn't strip you of your rights. The FCA's Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC) binds every regulated creditor and debt collector — and the rules have real teeth. They cannot:Harass,...
Product Safety and Recalls
All consumer products sold in the UK must be safe. Key protections:Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, manufacturers are strictly liable for damage caused by defective products — you don't need...
Bailiff and Enforcement Agent Protections
Bailiffs in England and Wales operate under Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. There are three regimes — certificated enforcement agents (council tax / CCJ / commercial...
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