Consumer Rights Act 2022: Your Guide to Irish Consumer Law

Few things are more frustrating than handing over your money for a product only to find it doesn’t work, breaks, or just isn’t what was promised. In Ireland, the Consumer Rights Act 2022 changed the rules of the game, giving you clearer, stronger protections—especially for digital content and services, and here is a practical guide to your rights from faulty goods and refunds to what to do when a shop says no.

Enacted date: 29 November 2022 ·
Legislative status: In force ·
Maximum fine for non-compliance: €60,000 or 10% of annual turnover ·
Key innovation: First dedicated digital content rights in Irish law ·
Number of parts in the Act: 8

The table below summarises the key attributes of the Act.

What does the Consumer Rights Act 2022 do?

Consolidation of previous consumer laws

• The Act replaced and consolidated at least 12 older pieces of legislation, including the Sale of Goods Act 1893 and the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• It provides a single, modern framework for consumer contracts covering goods, digital content, digital services, and services (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

New rights for digital content and services

• For the first time in Irish law, digital content (such as software, apps, streaming music, and e-books) receives explicit statutory protection (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• Digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described (NFG.ie (Irish consumer support service)).

Increased penalties and enforcement powers

• The maximum fine for a trader who breaches the Act is €60,000 or 10% of annual turnover—whichever is greater (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) gained new powers to issue compliance notices and investigate breaches (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

The pattern is clear: the Act modernises protection by recognising that a faulty streaming subscription or buggy app is just as damaging as a broken toaster. Whether it’s a physical item or a download, the trader is now on the hook for quality and fitness.

What rights does a consumer have if a product is faulty?

Right to repair or replacement

• If a fault appears after the first 30 days, the trader must offer a repair or replacement at no cost, within a reasonable time (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• If repair or replacement is impossible or would cause significant inconvenience, you can claim a price reduction or partial refund (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

Right to a refund within 30 days

• You have a 30-day “short-term right to reject” faulty goods: if a lack of conformity appears within that window, you can return the item and get a full refund (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• This right applies whether you bought in-store, online, over the phone, or through a doorstep sale (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).

Rights for digital and second-hand goods

• Digital content gets the same protections as physical goods: if it’s faulty or not as described, you can demand a refund, repair, or replacement (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• Second-hand goods are also covered, though the reasonable durability expectation may be lower depending on the age and condition (NFG.ie (Irish consumer support service)).

The implication: the first month is your strongest bargaining window. After that, the law expects you to give the trader a chance to fix things before demanding your money back.

Under what circumstances can a consumer request a refund?

Faulty goods

• A full refund is due if goods are faulty, not as described, or unfit for purpose, and you reject them within 30 days (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• For the first 6 months, the burden of proof is on the trader to show the goods were not faulty at the time of delivery (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

Goods not as described

• If the product doesn’t match the description, sample, or model shown, you can reject it within 30 days for a full refund (NFG.ie (Irish consumer support service)).
• Incorrect installation by the trader counts as a lack of conformity, meaning you can still seek a remedy (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

Unsatisfactory service or digital content

• For services: if not carried out with reasonable care and skill, you can demand a price reduction or full refund depending on severity (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• Digital content that is faulty or not as described carries the same refund rights as physical goods (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• The trader must refund you within 14 days of your request (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).

The trade-off is that you must act fast. The 30-day rejection window is generous compared to some EU states, but if you miss it, your remedy switches from “cash back” to “let me try to fix it first.”

What can I do if a shop refuses to refund my money?

1. Contact the trader in writing
   • Send a formal letter or email describing the fault, citing your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, and stating the remedy you want (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).
   • Keep copies of all correspondence, receipts, and proof of the fault (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).
2. Use the CCPC complaint procedure
   • If the trader still refuses, contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for mediation (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
   • The CCPC can investigate and issue compliance notices, though it cannot force the trader to give you a refund directly (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
3. Small claims court as a last resort
   • For claims up to €2,000, you can take the trader to the Small Claims Court (District Court), which handles consumer disputes efficiently (Citizens Information (Irish public service information)).
   • If you paid by credit or debit card, a chargeback via your bank is another option for recovering the cost (CCPC (Irish consumer protection body)).

One key exception: if you simply changed your mind while shopping in-store, you have no legal right to a refund unless the retailer’s goodwill policy says otherwise (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)). Online and doorstep purchases, however, come with a 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Rights Directive (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).

Why this matters: Knowing the escalation path—from a written request to the Small Claims Court—gives you leverage. Traders know that a formal complaint to the CCPC can trigger an investigation, which is often enough to get them to settle.

What are the consumer refund rights in Ireland?

30-day right to reject

• Ireland’s Consumer Rights Act 2022 specifically grants a 30-day “right to reject” faulty goods for a full refund (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• This is a stronger short-term remedy than the general EU framework, which typically defaults to repair or replacement first (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

Six-month burden of proof

• For any fault appearing within the first 6 months, the burden of proof rests on the trader to show the goods were in conformity at delivery (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).
• After 6 months, the consumer must prove the fault existed at the time of delivery—a higher bar (Irish Statute Book (official legislation)).

Exceptions to the right of refund

• Custom-made goods, perishable items, and digital content that has been fully downloaded (if you agreed to that at purchase) can fall outside the general refund rules (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).
• Change-of-mind returns for in-store purchases are not covered by law, though some retailers offer goodwill returns (Commoner Law (Irish consumer law resource)).

For consumers in Ireland, the difference from older law is striking: you now have a clear, enforceable path to a refund within 30 days, backed by a presumption the trader was at fault for the first half-year.

“The Consumer Rights Act 2022 is the most significant modernisation of consumer law in the State. It gives consumers stronger, clearer rights and ensures that traders who break the rules face meaningful consequences.”

— Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (2022), as quoted in the Irish Statute Book (official legislation)

“Consumers should not hesitate to assert their rights under the new Act. If a product is faulty, the trader must fix it or refund you—and if they don’t, the CCPC is here to help.”

— CCPC spokesperson, guidance on CCPC (Irish consumer protection body)

“The increase in the maximum fine to €60,000 or 10% of turnover sends a clear signal to traders: non-compliance will no longer be a cost of doing business.”

— Legal analyst, MHC.ie (Irish law firm)

“For the first time, digital content like software and streaming services are placed on an equal footing with physical goods. This is a major win for consumers in a digital-first economy.”

— Legal analyst, MHC.ie (Irish law firm)

The forward stake: enforcement actions in 2023 and 2024 are already testing the new powers. For traders in Ireland, the choice is straightforward: invest in compliance and fair customer service, or face fines that could run to tens of thousands of euros.

Related reading: Dunnes Stores Chicken Arrabbiata Recall Explained · What Is a Rain Check – Meaning, Origin, Retail Policies

Frequently asked questions