Martin Lewis explains your consumer rights – when you can & can't return non-faulty items

Buy online and you CAN change your mind

Online shoppers have more rights. The Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 state that unless goods are personalised or perishable you have the right to send them back whether they’re faulty or not (even if you’ve opened the box).

You have up to 14 days after you receive an item to notify the site you are returning it, and then up to 14 days after that to send it back. Therefore a total maximum 28 days.

You should also get a refund of your original lowest postage payment (i.e. not if you paid more for express postage).

Though you can be asked to pay for the return postage, so before you buy you might want to check where you have to send the item back to beforehand, as some online goods can come even as far afield as China and sending goods back may cost more than you paid in the first place.

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You don’t need a receipt to return faulty items

The law just requires proof of purchase. A receipt is easiest, but if not a credit card or bank statement may provide the evidence needed. 

However if goods aren’t faulty, many stores do require a receipt to return them.

And then, as they are being generous to allow returns at all, if they say jump up and down and call me Tigger to get your money back, be prepared to bounce.