Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

Right of redress against suppliers in respect of supply of goods - Provisions relating to rejection of goods

22: Manner of rejecting goods

You could also call this:

“How to tell a shop you don't want their stuff anymore”

When you want to reject goods under this Act, you need to tell the supplier that you’re rejecting the goods and why. You do this by notifying them of your decision and the reasons for it.

After you decide to reject the goods, you usually need to return them to the supplier. However, there are some exceptions. You don’t have to return the goods if it would cost you a lot to do so, like if they’re too big or heavy to move easily. In these cases, the supplier has to collect the goods and pay for it themselves. You also don’t need to return the goods if the supplier has already taken them back.

It’s important to know that if you owned the goods before you decided to reject them, the ownership goes back to the supplier as soon as you tell them you’re rejecting the goods.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM312829.

Topics:
Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
Business > Fair trading
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Part 2 Right of redress against suppliers in respect of supply of goods
Provisions relating to rejection of goods

22Manner of rejecting goods

  1. The consumer shall exercise the right to reject goods under this Act by notifying the supplier of the decision to reject the goods and of the ground or grounds for rejection.

  2. Where the consumer exercises the right to reject goods, the consumer shall return the rejected goods to the supplier—

  3. unless,—the goods cannot be returned or removed or transported without significant cost to the consumer, in which case the supplier shall collect the goods at the expense of the supplier; or
    1. because of the nature of the failure to comply with the guarantee in respect of which the consumer has the right to reject the goods; or
      1. because of the size or height or method of attachment,—
      2. unless the goods have already been returned to, or retrieved by, the supplier.

        1. Where the ownership in the goods has passed to the consumer before the consumer exercises the right of rejection, the ownership in the goods revests in the supplier upon notification of rejection.

        Compare
        • Trade Practices Act 1974 s 75A (Aust)
        • Consumer Products Warranties Act 1977 ss 18, 22, 23 (Saskatchewan)