Returning presents after Christmas: your rights in the UK

Not every present is a hit. Here’s a plain-English summary of your legal rights in the UK, based on Citizens Advice, GOV.UK and Trading Standards. Shops and websites can offer more than the law requires, but not less. This is general information, not legal advice — Citizens Advice’s pages apply to England, and there are separate versions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Bought online? You can usually change your mind

When you buy something online, by phone or by mail order, Citizens Advice explains that you usually have a 14-day cooling-off period that starts the day after you receive the item. If you tell the seller you’re cancelling, you then have another 14 days to send it back, and the seller must refund you within 14 days of getting the item back (or proof that you posted it).

There are exceptions. The cooling-off period doesn’t usually cover:

• personalised or made-to-measure items,
• perishable things such as food and flowers,
• CDs, DVDs and software once the seal is broken,
• items with a hygiene seal that’s been broken, such as earrings,
• things bought from private individuals.

You may have to pay the cost of sending an item back if you’ve simply changed your mind.

Bought in a shop? Changing your mind isn’t a legal right

If you bought something in person and it isn’t faulty, Citizens Advice says you don’t have an automatic right to a refund just because you’ve changed your mind — it depends on the shop’s returns policy. Some shops offer a longer returns period over Christmas, so check the policy before you buy.

Faulty presents

If something is faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose, you have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 whether you bought it online or in a shop, and whether it was full price or in a sale (GOV.UK):

• Within 30 days you can reject it and ask for a full refund (the “short-term right to reject”).
• Within 6 months the seller must repair or replace it unless they can show it wasn’t faulty when you bought it.
• You can make a claim for up to 6 years (5 years in Scotland).

These rights don’t cover wear and tear, accidental damage or faults you were told about before you bought it.

Returning a present you were given

The legal rights belong to the person who bought it. GOV.UK says shops only have to accept returns from the buyer, and Warwickshire Trading Standards explains that if you receive a faulty gift, you may need to ask the buyer to return it for you. A gift receipt usually lets you return it yourself, but that’s the shop’s policy rather than the law. So when you buy presents, ask for gift receipts or keep your order confirmations.

Buying on Amazon.co.uk

Amazon sets out its own returns policies and return windows on its website — we don’t repeat them here because they can change. See Amazon.co.uk’s returns information, and check whether an item is sold by Amazon or by another seller on the product page.

If you paid by credit card, Citizens Advice notes that you can’t usually use Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for things bought through a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, though you can ask your card provider and may be able to use “chargeback” instead.

Where to get help

• England and Wales: Citizens Advice consumer helpline, 0808 223 1133 (Welsh language 0808 223 1144).
• Scotland: Advice Direct Scotland, 0808 164 6000.
• Northern Ireland: Consumerline, 0300 123 6262.

(Helpline numbers from GOV.UK, checked 15 October 2026.)