What this tool does

The Refund Rights Checker works out whether UK consumer law entitles you to your money back on something you've bought, and points you to the quickest route to getting it.

It looks at the shop or trader you bought from, how you paid, when the purchase happened and what's gone wrong, then tells you where you stand in plain English.

When to use it

It's for anyone who has bought goods, a service or a digital product from a UK business and thinks something isn't right. That could be a faulty washing machine, a pair of shoes that fell apart after a month, a holiday that wasn't as described, a subscription that kept charging after cancellation, or an item that never turned up.

It also covers situations where you've simply changed your mind, which is treated very differently in law depending on whether you bought online, over the phone or in a shop. If a trader has told you that you're not entitled to a refund and you're not sure whether that's true, this is a sensible first step before you complain in writing or escalate to your bank or card provider.

It won't cover private sales between individuals, business to business purchases, or disputes with someone based outside the UK, as the rules there work differently.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about the purchase, such as what you bought, when, how you paid and what the problem is. The tool then gives you a straightforward summary of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and related rules, along with the strongest next step to take, whether that's asking the retailer for a repair, replacement or refund, making a Section 75 claim through your credit card company, or using chargeback on a debit card. Your answers aren't saved and nothing is shared with the trader. If the result suggests a formal complaint, you'll also see what to include in it so you're not starting from a blank page.