Refunds and credit notes FAQs
Q1. Am I entitled to a refund for products/services that I wish to return after purchase?
This depends why you want to return the product. If there is a fault with the goods you have purchased, you are protected by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980. The question below addresses such instances and sets out the legal protections available to you.
Where there is nothing specifically wrong or faulty with the goods and you simply no longer want them for whatever reason, this is regarded as a "change of mind". You have no automatic entitlement under consumer law to a refund in such circumstances.
Many retailers are happy to exchange or refund goods in these circumstances, provided you have proof of purchase and meet their terms and conditions. This, however, is a gesture of goodwill on the part of the retailer rather than a legal entitlement.
Q2. Does a refund have to be in cash?
The Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980 makes no distinction about how refunds are paid. They can be paid by cash, cheque or refund to a credit card. In general, refunds are paid in the same way as the original method of payment for the goods.
Q3. Do I have to accept a credit note in place of faulty goods rather than a refund?
A refund returns the payment to the consumer. A credit note is like a voucher - it can only be redeemed in that retail outlet and, in some instances, if the shop is part of a chain, in that chain of shops.
This will depend on the terms and conditions. You should carefully consider the terms of a credit note before accepting it. You do not have to accept a credit note as a form of redress where the goods are faulty.
Related links
Read our guide on returning faulty goods
Find out more about your rights as a shopper
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