Complain to Argos about faulty goods within the first 30 days
Within 30 days, a faulty product is a no-questions full refund - not a repair, not a credit note, not a store policy override. Here is the section that says so.
The law on your side
Consumer Rights Act 2015, short-term right to reject
Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9-11 & 20-22
- The 30-day period starts at delivery, not at purchase.
- Goods must be of satisfactory quality (s.9), fit for purpose (s.10) and as described (s.11).
- The retailer cannot demand the original packaging - only a reasonable means to identify and return the product.
- The retailer is liable, not the manufacturer. Don’t let them deflect.
What you are owed
| Situation | Remedy |
|---|---|
| Refund (within 30 days) | Full refund, original payment method |
| Cost of returning faulty goods | Borne by the retailer (s.20(8)) |
| Time limit to reject | 30 days from delivery (s.22) |
Source: Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9-11 & 20-22.
Copy-paste letter template
Replace anything in [SQUARE_BRACKETS] with your details. Keep the tone factual - the citations do the heavy lifting.
Dear Argos Customer Service, I am writing about [PRODUCT] purchased from Argos on [DATE], order reference [ORDER_REF], for £[PRICE]. The goods are faulty: [DESCRIBE_FAULT]. Under section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, I have the short-term right to reject goods that do not conform to contract within 30 days of delivery and to receive a full refund. The 30-day period has not yet expired. I require a full refund of £[PRICE] within 14 days, paid to the original payment method. I am happy to return the item; please confirm whether you will arrange a free collection or provide a pre-paid returns label, as the cost of returning faulty goods falls on the retailer. If this is not resolved, I will pursue the matter through [ADR_SCHEME / Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 / Money Claim Online]. Yours faithfully, [FULL_NAME] [ADDRESS] [EMAIL]
If they ignore the first letter
- 1
Write to the retailer
Cite section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and request a full refund. Make clear you are exercising the short-term right to reject.
Allow 14 days for a response
- 2
Section 75 or chargeback
If you paid £100-£30,000 by credit card, your card provider is jointly liable under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you paid by debit card, ask your bank for a chargeback.
- 3
Trading Standards via Citizens Advice
Report retailers who refuse statutory rights. Citizens Advice forwards complaints to Trading Standards.
- 4
Money Claim Online
Issue a small claim for up to £10,000.
Final stop: Trading Standards (via Citizens Advice consumer service) or the retailer’s ADR scheme if signed up.
Quick answers
Can the retailer insist on a repair instead of a refund?
Not within the first 30 days. Section 20 gives you the unconditional short-term right to reject and demand a refund. After 30 days the retailer can offer a repair or replacement first.
What if I bought it on sale or in clearance?
The same statutory rights apply. The only thing that changes is what counts as satisfactory quality - the retailer can argue a known cosmetic flaw flagged at sale isn’t a defect, but the duty of fitness for purpose still applies.
Who pays for return postage?
The retailer. Section 20(8) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 makes the cost of returning faulty goods the trader’s responsibility.
What if the retailer says my warranty has expired?
Statutory rights and warranties are separate. A 12-month warranty does not override your six-year statutory limitation period. Cite the Consumer Rights Act 2015, not their warranty.
What is the Argos complaints email address?
There isn’t one. Argos states on its own help pages that it "cannot provide a support email address", and directs people to live chat or its other contact channels instead. Every complaints@ or customerservices@argos.co.uk address circulating on complaint directories is invented, so anything sent there is unlikely to reach anyone. Use live chat, or write to Argos Limited, Royal Avenue, Widnes, WA8 8HS.
Can I take an Argos complaint to an ombudsman?
No. Argos belongs to no alternative dispute resolution scheme, and its terms name none, so there is no ombudsman to escalate to for faulty goods or poor service. Your real routes are Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if you paid more than £100 by credit card, a chargeback through your bank if you paid by debit card, or the small claims track. Argos Card and Argos Pay complaints are different: that credit is provided by NewDay and does reach the Financial Ombudsman.
Where do I write to Argos to complain?
Argos Limited, Royal Avenue, Widnes, WA8 8HS. That is the address Argos publishes for written contact. Sainsbury’s owns Argos, but complaints do not route through a Sainsbury’s page: Argos keeps its own help centre and its own escalation. Put your order number in the letter and keep a copy, because a paper trail is what a small claims judge will want to see later.
Stop typing. Start sending.
Generate a personalised letter for your Argos case in minutes, with the right statute already cited.
Build my Argos complaintDisclaimer: NoReply is an independent consumer advocacy platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Argos. This page summarises Consumer Rights Act 2015, short-term right to reject (Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9-11 & 20-22) for general guidance and is not legal advice. Always check the current statutory text before acting.