Consumer Rights Act 2022

Obligations of trader where sales contract terminated

30. (1) This section applies where the consumer exercises—

(a) the right to terminate a sales contract under section 14 (2) or 36 (5),

(b) the short-term right to terminate a sales contract under section 23 (1) or 37 (2)(a), or

(c) the final right to terminate a sales contract under section 26 (2)(b) or 37 (2)(b).

(2) The trader shall upon receipt of the goods or, if the trader so chooses, of evidence provided by the consumer of having returned the goods, reimburse the consumer in accordance with section 31 for—

(a) the price paid for the goods, and

(b) any costs incurred by the consumer in returning the goods to the trader.

(3) Where the consumer exercises the final right to terminate the sales contract under section 26 (2)(b) or 37 (2)(b), the reimbursement of the price to which the consumer is entitled under subsection (2) may be reduced in proportion to any depreciation in the value of the goods in excess of the depreciation that could reasonably be expected to result from their normal use.

(4) In case of dispute as to the application of subsection (3), it shall be for the trader to show that the depreciation in the value of the goods exceeded that which could reasonably be expected to result from their normal use.

(5) Where the consumer terminates a conditional sales contract within the meaning of section 11 before the price of the goods has been paid in full, the reimbursement of the price to which the consumer is entitled under subsection (2) shall be limited to that part of the price for the goods which has been paid by the consumer.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), in a sales contract where the consumer transfers the ownership of goods to the trader in full or part payment of the price, the trader shall—

(a) return those goods to the consumer, and

(b) reimburse in accordance with section 31 any price paid by the consumer.

(7) If the trader cannot return the goods to the consumer as required by subsection (6), the trader shall reimburse the consumer—

(a) to the agreed monetary value ascribed to the goods by the parties at the time the sales contract was concluded, or

(b) where no such monetary value was agreed, with a sum that is a reasonable and objectively justified exchange value of the goods at the time the sales contract was concluded.