Buying second-hand items can have many benefits. It can often be very cost-effective and also more environmentally friendly than always buying new.
But sometimes, these products we buy don’t live up to our expectations. So, what happens then?
It’s often though that if an item isn’t new, it can’t be returned to its seller. But this isn’t necessarily true – actually, you may be entitled to a full refund.
To learn more about your rights as a consumer, follow our guide.
Retailers and traders
Who did you buy your goods from? If it was a retailer or trader, you’re in luck. This is because you, as a consumer, are covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
Thanks to legislation, online retailers and traders must refund customers who wish to cancel an order. You have the right to return your item/s within 14 days of having received them, regardless of the reason.
Once you’ve asked for a refund, the retailer will then be legally required to process and return your money. Of course, they typically demand evidence of purchase and a reason for the return before authorising this process.
Private seller
Very often, it can be harder to receive a full refund from a private seller than from a retailer or trader.
The Consumer Rights Act applies to individual vendors — however it doesn’t stipulate that they must detail any faults.
It does state, however, that they aren’t allowed to misrepresent goods. If a private seller describes a damaged item as being intact, for example.
In this event, you would need to contact the seller directly. If they refused to offer a refund, you may have to take legal action — either through an ombudsman or in a small claims court.
Complaint type
Before you contact a seller, make sure to identify what kind of complaint you’ll be making. That way, you can be certain that you’re making the right decision.
If you really like the product you’ve bought, but it happens to be faulty, you could always issue a request for it to be repaired or exchanged. This may be particularly worthwhile if the item was hard to find in the first place.
If you plan to spend the money you’d receive from a refund on a similar piece, it could save you time and effort. Likewise, a replacement may be more valuable than a monetary return.
Your money is important. So, it’s only right that you should want to protect it, and this can extend to claiming it back when it’s been unintentionally mis-spent. This way you can ensure that your finances always stay on track