How to get a refund on your unwanted Christmas gifts
Feature
by Cathy Adams
Proof of purchase
Always make sure you hold on to your receipt, or ask the person who gave it to you for a gift receipt. Without any proof of purchase you'll only be offered an exchange, or at best a gift voucher.
Remember, if the present was bought using a card, the money can only be refunded to the cardholder.
Goodwill gesture
Although retailers aren't legally obliged to refund you on purchases, most do so as a gesture of goodwill. Many shops are more lenient after Christmas and will give you your money back even if the item was bought in the sales.
Some even extend their returns period, so check the terms and conditions on the back of the receipt or ask in-store for more details.
Check for damage
Make sure to check if the gift is damaged or faulty - the retailer is obliged to give you your money back if you can prove there's a manufacturing fault.
Don't leave it too late
While most shops will refund you out of goodwill, don't leave it any longer than two weeks before you return the item, and certainly don't wait any longer than the end of January.
It's worthwhile checking with the individual store, as some retailers will not process refunds or exchanges in the busy sale period between Christmas and New Year.
Read the small print
If your gift was bought online, check with the retailer what its refund policy is. Many online retailers will offer you something in return, but will typically expect you to pay for the return postage when you send the item back.
