Know your rights – returns
You have 10 business days in which to return goods and claim a full refund
AS you rush to the store to buy gifts for your friends and loved-ones, keep in mind that the Consumer Protection Act (the Act), which came into effect on 1 April 2011, was put in place to protect you.
Many people don’t understand when goods can be returned under the Act and what their rights are with regard to receiving store credit or cash. Under the Act, there are certain specific instances in which goods can in fact, be returned.
If goods were bought as a result of direct marketing, you have five business days in which to return them and receive a full refund. However, this is only the case if the goods have not been opened or used.
In order to cancel the agreement, you need to provide the supplier with a notice in some recordable form (ie an email or a letter) stating your intent – you are not required to give a reason.
Goods must be returned at your own expense and a supplier has 15 business days from the receipt of the returned goods in which to refund you.
You also have the right to return goods and receive a full refund if you did not have an opportunity to examine the goods before they were delivered and the goods did not correspond with the description provided, or were not of a type and quality that was agreed upon.
You have 10 business days in which to return goods and claim a full refund.
If you change your mind once you have purchased goods and you wish to return them, a supplier is not legally obliged to exchange or refund the goods.
Any store policy that offers to accept returns or exchanges and give refunds is actually surpassing the requirements of the Act and they are therefore entitled to offer store credit as opposed to a cash refund.
