Can I get a refund if I change my mind about something I bought?

General information from Lawmateanz

In New Zealand, shops don't have to give a refund just because you've changed your mind. The Consumer Guarantees Act covers faulty goods and services, not change of mind.

Many shops offer change-of-mind refunds or exchanges anyway. If they do, they must honour their policy as advertised, so it's worth checking before you buy.

There's an exception for 'uninvited direct sales', such as door-to-door or unsolicited phone sales. In those cases, the Fair Trading Act generally gives you five working days to cancel.

If an item is faulty, doesn't match its description, or isn't fit for purpose, you do have rights, and a shop can't avoid them with a 'no refunds' sign.

Consumer Protection (part of MBIE) and Consumer NZ have free information on your rights.

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General information only. Answers are written by independent lawyers based only on what's in the question. They aren't legal advice about your situation and don't create a lawyer–client relationship. For advice about your own matter, talk to a lawyer directly.