BBC Morning Live lawyer explains legal rights on sale items when Christmas shopping

An expert has revealed your legal rights when buying sale items in the run up to . In a segment on Morning Live, lawyer Denise Nurse said that despite confusion, your rights remain the same whether you buy an item at full price or at a discount.

Taking to X (formerly ) @BBCMorningLive wrote: "If you're looking to get ahead with Christmas shopping, lawyer @denisebn explains what your legal rights are on sale items, including whether you can get an exchange or refund on any presents bought weeks before the big day."

In the video alongside the tweet, Denise said: "You have your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, whether you buy full price or at a discount. So when you go and buy your sale items, you’ll still have your statutory rights."

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She added: "44% of people didn’t know…lots of people think because when you buy something sale you’re often told it’s different to buying it full price, they think therefore your rights are different, in terms of your statutory rights. But they’re not. So you get the same rights if you buy it full or sale price.

"And that’s because if an item is faulty you have a right to get it returned, repaired or get your money back, full refund. So if the item is faulty that’s the thing, if it’s not as described."

She then shared the things shoppers should look out for, which would make their rights come into play. These include:

• Satisfactory quality
• As described
• Fit for purpose
• Last a reasonable length of time

Denise said: “If you buy something and it's not of satisfactory quality, it’s not as described, its not fit for purpose and it doesn’t last a reasonable time, for example, then that is when - even if you’ve bought it at a discount or on sale - you would still have the right to a return, get your money back, full refund or a repair.”

How long do you have to return a faulty product?

According to the Consumer Rights Act gives you the legal right to either get a refund for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, or get it repaired - depending on how long you've owned it:

• 0-30 days: You can claim a full refund for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described.
• 30 days-six months: You must give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace it before you can claim a refund.
• Six months or longer: You must give the retailer one opportunity to repair or replace it before you can claim a partial refund, and the burden of proof is on you to prove the product is faulty.

If you'd prefer a repair or replacement in the first 30 days you can ask the retailer, but it cannot refuse to give you a refund.