Currys won't accept a return after 30 days - your CRA 2015 rights

Currys won't take it back. The dishwasher started leaking after six weeks. The salesperson on the phone says "it's outside the 30-day window, you'll have to deal with the manufacturer." Stop right there. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the retailer remains on the hook for years, not weeks. Here's exactly what you're owed.

What the law says

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) gives you three tiers of remedy when goods don't meet the standards of satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose, or as described:

Section 22 - Short-term right to reject (first 30 days):

Full refund, no questions about repair or replacement.

Section 23 - Right to repair or replacement (after 30 days, within reasonable time):

The retailer must repair or replace within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you. They get one shot at this.

Section 24 - Final right to reject / price reduction (after one failed repair or replacement):

You get a partial refund or full refund. After 6 months, the retailer can deduct an amount for the use you've had.

Crucially, section 19(14) - the reverse burden of proof: for the first six months from delivery, any fault is presumed to have been there from the start unless the retailer can prove otherwise. You don't have to prove anything; they have to prove the fault wasn't inherent.

The CRA applies to the retailer, not the manufacturer. "Take it up with the manufacturer" is not a valid response - the retailer is the party in contract with you and they remain liable for the duration of the limitation period: 6 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 5 years in Scotland.

Step-by-step: how to claim

1. Document the fault. Photos, video, error messages, dates. Note when you first noticed it.
2. Identify which tier applies. Within 30 days = right to reject. Past 30 days but within 6 months = repair/replace, with reverse burden of proof on retailer. After 6 months = repair/replace, but you may need to show the fault was inherent.
3. Contact the retailer in writing - email or their formal complaints form, not just a chat with the till.
4. Quote the section number. "Under section 23 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015" gets a different response from "the dishwasher's broken".
5. Use our refund timeline tool to track the response window.

Letter snippet

Dear [RETAILER],

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Re: Order [NUMBER] - [PRODUCT] purchased on [DATE]

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The above [PRODUCT], purchased from your store on [DATE], has developed the following fault: [DESCRIBE FAULT]. The fault first appeared on [DATE].

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Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. As the fault appeared within six months of delivery, section 19(14) presumes the fault was present at the time of supply unless you can prove otherwise.

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I require [a repair / a replacement / a price reduction / a final refund] under [section 23 / section 24] of the Act. Please confirm in writing within 14 days how you propose to remedy the fault.

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If a repair or replacement is not provided within a reasonable time, I will exercise my final right to reject under section 24.

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Yours faithfully,

[NAME] - Order [NUMBER]

If they say no

Retailers love to bounce you to the manufacturer's warranty. The warranty is in addition to your statutory rights, not a replacement. If the retailer refuses:

• Send a Letter Before Action. A formal pre-court letter referencing the CRA and giving 14 days to remedy.
• Section 75 claim if you paid by credit card and the goods were over £100. Same legal basis (the breach of contract), but enforced via the card provider.
• Chargeback if you paid by debit card.
• Retail ADR scheme - many retailers are members of the Retail Ombudsman or RetailADR. Check the terms in your receipt or our Currys company page.
• Money Claim Online - small claims track for goods under £10,000.

FAQs

The retailer says I voided the warranty by [doing X]. Does that affect my CRA rights?

No. Statutory rights under the CRA are separate from the manufacturer's warranty. Warranty conditions can't override CRA protection.

It's been 13 months. Am I out of time?

No. The CRA limitation period is 6 years in England (5 in Scotland) from the date of purchase, provided the fault was inherent. After 6 months, the burden shifts to you to show the fault was there from the start - often achievable with an independent engineer's report.

Can the retailer charge me for a repair after 6 months?

Only if they can show the fault was caused by misuse, not inherent. Otherwise, repair is at their cost.

What about ex-display or "open box" items?

They're still subject to the CRA. The retailer can flag pre-existing wear (and you accept it), but the goods must still be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

Does this cover online purchases too?

Yes, plus you get an extra 14-day cooling-off right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (online and distance sales only) - but that's for change of mind, not faults.

The retailer's job is to sell you the product. Yours is to know your rights when it breaks. Now you do.