Your rights when your purchases don't work
When you buy goods or services from a merchant, and they break too easily, don’t work or don’t perform as generally expected, you have rights under the law.
The Australian Consumer Law, found in a schedule to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, establishes basic guarantees for consumers purchasing goods and services from Australian suppliers, importers, or manufacturers.
These guarantees aim to ensure you receive the products or services you've paid for. If a guarantee is not met and you encounter an issue, you are entitled to a remedy. The appropriate remedy varies based on the situation but can include a repair, replacement, refund, or re-performance of the service.
It is important to know your rights, but remember that the law aims to give consumers and sellers a fair go – it is not designed to protect you if you are careless or make unreasonable demands.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has created a helpful guide that answers common consumer questions. It covers topics like your rights when a purchase breaks or doesn't work as expected, and when you might qualify for a refund or exchange. The guide explains the law in clear language but is not a replacement for the actual legislation or legal advice.
You can access it HERE.