↩️ Refund & Return Checker
Am I entitled to a refund?
Whether you can get your money back in Ireland depends on two things: where you bought it, and why you want to return it. Those two answers lead to completely different rules, and confusing them is why most people give up at the counter.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
Bought online and changed your mind: you generally have 14 days from delivery to cancel for any reason at all, and a further 14 days to return the goods. No reason is needed and nothing has to be wrong with the item.
Bought in a shop and changed your mind: you have no statutory right to anything. Most Irish retailers offer returns as a matter of policy, and that policy is what applies. This is the single most misunderstood point in Irish consumer law.
Something is faulty: where you bought it stops mattering. Goods from a trader must be of satisfactory quality, and within 30 days of delivery you can generally reject faulty goods and ask for a refund outright.
What affects the result
- Whether the purchase was made at a distance — online, by phone or at your door — or in person.
- Whether the item is faulty or you simply changed your mind. Completely different rules.
- How many days have passed. 14 days and 30 days are the two thresholds that matter most.
- Whether the item falls into one of the cooling-off exceptions — personalised goods, perishables, unsealed media.
- The trader's own returns policy, which frequently gives more than the law does.
Am I entitled to a refund?
The order to do things in
Cancel or complain in writing first, because that dates it. Ask for the specific remedy you want rather than opening a negotiation. Keep the packaging until it is resolved. And if the trader refuses, the Small Claims Procedure costs €25 for amounts up to €2,000 and is designed to be used without a solicitor.
Card chargeback
Where a trader has taken your money and will not refund it, your bank or card provider may be able to reverse the payment under card scheme rules. It is not a legal right and time limits apply, usually measured from the transaction or the expected delivery date — so ask early rather than after months of correspondence.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- You bought from a trader rather than a private individual, and for private use rather than for a business.
- The 14-day cooling-off period runs from the day you receive the goods, not the day you order them.
- Return postage for a change-of-mind cancellation is normally yours to pay unless the trader said otherwise.
- The 30-day right to reject faulty goods runs from delivery.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- CCPC — shopping online
The state consumer body's guidance on the 14-day cooling-off period, its exceptions, and refund timelines.
- CCPC — faulty goods
What you can ask for when goods are faulty, and in what order.
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
The legislation setting out the cooling-off period, the right to reject and the remedies that follow.
Common questions
Can I return something to a shop because I changed my mind?
Not as a legal right. In-store purchases carry no statutory right to return for a change of mind — the shop's own policy decides it, and most Irish retailers do offer one. Keep the receipt and the tags, and go back inside whatever window the policy allows.
How long is the cooling-off period in Ireland?
14 days from receiving the goods, for most purchases made online, by phone, by mail order or at your door. You then have a further 14 days to send the goods back, and the refund is due within 14 days of the trader receiving them or of you proving you posted them.
Who pays return postage?
For a change-of-mind cancellation, normally you do, unless the trader failed to tell you that before you bought or has said otherwise. For faulty goods, the trader bears the cost of returning them.
Can I cancel a service I booked online?
Usually yes, within the same 14-day window — but not if it is accommodation, transport, car hire, catering or a leisure activity booked for a specific date. Those are excluded. If you asked for the service to start inside the cooling-off period, you may have to pay for what was provided before you cancelled.
What about digital downloads and subscriptions?
The cooling-off period applies, but you lose it once you agree to start receiving the content immediately — and only where the trader told you clearly, before you agreed, that this would happen. If it did not tell you, the right to cancel survives.
What to check next
What are my rights on this purchase?
Answer six questions about what you bought and see the Irish rights that may apply.
Consumer Rights CheckerNewCan I take this to the Small Claims procedure?
Whether your dispute looks eligible, what it costs, and where to file.
Small Claims CheckerNewDo I need the extended warranty?
What a guarantee adds to your statutory rights, and what it usually does not.
Warranty vs GuaranteeNewWho should I actually complain to?
The right Irish regulator, ombudsman or body for your complaint, with the official link.
Complaint Route FinderNext steps across CheckIreland
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CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.