Ahead of the Boxing Day and January sales, money-saving guru Martin Lewis has busted a common myth around returning items you just don’t like and asking for a refund
Have you fallen victim to your Nan’s awful fashion taste, or is the jumper you begged your partner to buy the wrong size? Christmas can be full of disappointing gifts, which might sound brattish – but you know deep down it’s true.
Of course, the festive holidays are all about spending time with your loved ones, but there’s no point in being a martyr. If you’ve been gifted something you hate, or something that’s faulty – you don’t have to smile and emphatically lie about how much you love it. Just ask politely if they have kept the receipt in case you need to swap sizes…
The reality is that Christmas and the subsequent Boxing Day and January sales generate a huge spike in retail sales, which means more and more people will be sneaking back to the store wanting a refund. But despite popular belief, money-saving guru Martin Lewis says you don’t actually have a legal right to return goods bought in-store – unless ‘they’re faulty’.
Speaking on his eponymously named show earlier this month, the money expert shared a poll he conducted on X about refunds. 35.6 per cent of participants believed your statutory rights include legally returning an item of clothing you simply don’t like if you have the receipt.
“Well, I’m sorry, so you need to listen carefully here,” Martin said. “You have no legal return rights for goods bought in-store unless they’re faulty. So, the shop may have its own policy. It may publish its return rights, in which case it’s a contractual right. But your statutory rights, your in-law rights means you can’t take it back.” The money ace therefore suggests anyone going out to buy a new wardrobe in the January sales should therefore try on the clothes they’ve spotted before taking them home.
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However, when it comes to online purchases – the rules are a little different and sway in your favour. “You do have a right to change your mind for online purchases.,” Martin reiterated. “You’ve got 14 days to notify them and then 14 days after notification to send it back. So [a] maximum 28 days.”
If you’re planning on returning an item you’ve ordered online, don’t notify the brand until the ‘last moment’. This gives you longer to get your parcel all wrapped up and dropped off at the Post Office. Of course, there are certain exceptions to this rule, such as personalised items or perishable goods.
Is returning Christmas gifts you don’t like rude or sensible? Have your say in the comments section below
