What this tool does

It gives you a quick read on where you stand under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 when something you've bought has gone wrong. You tell it what happened, and it works out which part of the Act applies and what the trader should do to put things right.

The Act covers three main areas: physical goods, services, and digital content such as apps, downloads and streaming. Rules on refunds, repairs and replacements differ across the three, so the tool picks the right set for your situation rather than giving you a generic answer.

When to use it

Use it if you've bought something from a UK business and it's faulty, not as described, or not fit for the purpose you explained at the till. Typical examples include a washing machine that breaks after a few weeks, a sofa that arrives damaged, a builder who has done shoddy work, a holiday let that wasn't what was advertised, or a subscription service that keeps crashing.

It's aimed at consumers, not businesses buying from other businesses, as B2B sales sit under different rules. It also won't help with private sales between individuals, for example a used car bought from a neighbour, because the Act only applies when you buy from a trader.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about what you bought, when, how it went wrong and what the seller has said so far. The tool then gives you a plain English summary of your position, including your short term right to reject if the item is still within 30 days, your right to a repair or replacement, and when a refund should apply. Your answers are not stored, and you can print or save the summary to show the retailer if you need to push the point further.