Faulty Goods

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 implies terms into every consumer sale: goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for their purpose, and as described. Where they are not, the buyer has a short-term right to reject within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Between 30 days and six months, the burden of proof favours the buyer — a fault found in this window is presumed to have existed at delivery unless the trader proves otherwise — but the buyer must give the trader one opportunity to repair or replace before claiming a refund. After six months, the burden shifts: the buyer must prove the fault was present at the time of delivery. The claim itself remains available for six years from the date of breach, the standard limitation period for a contract claim.

Building This Claim

The claim is evidenced by: proof of purchase (receipt, order confirmation, or bank statement), the date of delivery, a clear description of the fault, photographs or video where the defect is visible, and copies of correspondence in which the buyer notified the trader and requested a remedy. For technical defects — a vehicle, an appliance, a structural fault — an independent engineer's or surveyor's report strengthens the claim considerably once the six-month presumption has expired and the burden of proof sits with the buyer.

Judgments in faulty goods claims typically track the value of the goods and any documented consequential loss — most small claims judgments in this category fall between £50 and £2,000, though the track's £10,000 ceiling accommodates higher-value goods.

Common Defences

Traders typically respond with one or more of the following: the goods were not faulty at the point of sale and any defect arose from ordinary wear, misuse, or damage after delivery; the buyer has no proof of purchase from that trader; the claim falls outside the six-year limitation period; or the buyer rejected the goods, or refused a repair or replacement, without first giving the trader the single opportunity the Act requires. Where the defect surfaced after six months, the trader will commonly put the burden of proof squarely back on the buyer and require independent evidence that the fault was inherent at delivery.