{"id":3833,"date":"2017-05-12T12:09:18","date_gmt":"2017-05-12T12:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/consumers\/?page_id=3833"},"modified":"2026-01-10T13:06:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T13:06:17","slug":"faulty-goods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/consumers\/shopping\/faulty-goods\/","title":{"rendered":"Faulty goods"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Faulty goods\u2019 typically means goods that are broken or don\u2019t work. We also use this term for goods that might work but still don\u2019t meet the terms of a sales contract. This might be because the item falls short of what you should expect from this type of item<\/a>, or because it is not what was agreed when you bought it. In consumer law, this is called \u2018non-conformity\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 changed the law on faulty goods and enhanced the rights of consumers. There are different rules for goods bought on or before 28 November 2022.<\/a><\/p>\n

Your rights when you buy faulty goods<\/h2>\n

Here is a summary of your rights when it comes to faulty goods. You can follow the links to more information on each topic. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tShort term right to terminate\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Goods should be durable and of the quality that you can reasonably expect from the same type of items. If a fault arises in the first 30 days after you receive the goods, you can cancel your contract and return goods to the seller for a full refund. This is called a short-term right to terminate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tRepair or replacement\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\nIf a fault arises or is noticed more than 30 days after you receive the goods, you can generally choose between a repair and a replacement.<\/a> This applies only if the goods can be repaired or replaced, or doing so would not be too expensive compared to the price of the item. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tPartial price reduction or full refund \t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

If a repair or replacement doesn\u2019t resolve the problem, or isn\u2019t possible, you can get a partial reduction<\/a> in the price for minor faults or a full refund<\/a> if the fault is serious.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWithholding payment \t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\nIf you are paying in instalments, or you haven\u2019t fully paid for the goods, you have the right to withhold payment until the business resolves the issue. If you received the item in the past 30 days, you may prefer to use your short-term right to terminate<\/a> for a full refund.<\/p>\n

If you decide to withhold payment, you should tell the business that you intend to do so. If the issue is then resolved and the goods are in working order, you must pay the agreed amount.<\/p>\n

The amount that you can withhold is based on the reduced value of the goods because of the fault or defect. The reduced value depends on the type of item and how much it differs from what was agreed at the point of sale. \t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n

Time limit for resolving issues with faulty goods<\/h2>\n

In Ireland, you can seek a remedy for faulty goods for up to six years. The six-year period starts from the date you receive the goods.<\/p>\n

If there is a problem with an item you have bought, it is up to you prove it to the seller.<\/p>\n

If a problem with an item occurs in the first year after purchase, consumer law presumes that the problem has existed from the date you received the item. Within this first year, it is up to the business to prove that the item was not faulty when you received it and that any issue is due to wear and tear or misuse. <\/p>\n

You should always act promptly if goods are faulty. The earlier you report a fault, the easier it is to prove that the fault existed when you received the item. <\/p>\n

What to do when goods are faulty<\/h2>\n

When you notice a fault, contact the business that sold you the goods as soon as possible. Most problems can be resolved by having a chat in store or over the phone or by sending an email.<\/p>\n

In most cases, a fault or other issue with an item is obvious and easy to prove. If you bought in person, and it\u2019s possible for you to do so, bring the item back to the shop. If the item is too big or difficult to transport, take pictures of the fault and bring them with you. For more complex goods, like cars, you might need to get a professional report to show that there\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n

If you cannot resolve the issue informally, you may need to take formal action. This might involve asking to speak to the manager or writing a formal complaint<\/a>. Knowing your consumer rights will help you to point out what the business or trader is legally obliged to do.<\/p>\n

Most of the time, you will have no difficulty resolving the problem. The seller should know their obligations. They should know, for example that they must not<\/b>:<\/p>\n