Trouser trouble
Question
I've got a pair of trousers that are too small for me so I've never worn them. I want a refund but the shop says they will only exchange them. Do I have the right to demand my money back?
Answer
When you go to a shop and buy something, you acquire certain consumer rights that can be exercised if something goes wrong with what you buy. This would include your trousers falling apart within a few days, or if they shrank to an un-wearable size after a wash. In these situations the goods you bought would be considered faulty so you would be entitled to a refund or a replacement. A shop can't have a blanket no-refunds policy, as this would be a breach these consumer rights.
Unfortunately, in your case, you simply bought a pair of trousers that were too small. This means there was nothing wrong with trousers, so the consumer rights mentioned above don't apply. In a situation like this it's up to the retailer to decided what refund or exchange (if any) they choose to offer. This means they're within their rights to offer you a replacement and not a refund.
Updated: 12/06/2007
Question answered by CAB
