Guides › Faulty Goods and Refunds › Product Recall (Not Cars): What to Do
Product Recall (Not Cars): What to Do
GOV.UK has an official product safety alerts, reports and recalls list where you can search for recalled products and sign up for alerts. If something you own is recalled, follow the recall notice: stop using the product and contact the company named. Your rights against the seller still apply.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Product Recalls
Checking for Recalls
GOV.UK's product safety alerts, reports and recalls site lets you search previously recalled or reported products, filter by category, risk level, measure, date and alert type, and subscribe to instant, daily or weekly updates. source
Reporting
If you think a product is unsafe, report it. Local Trading Standards can escalate product safety matters to OPSS. source
Your Rights
What Goods Must Be
Goods you buy from a business must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose (Consumer Rights Act 2015). Your contract is with the seller, not the manufacturer, so the seller is the one to complain to. source
Repair or Replacement
After 30 days you can ask for a repair or replacement at no cost to you. The trader must do it within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 30 daysReject a faulty item for a full refund30 days from delivery, or from when any installation is finished
- 6 yearsTime limit for a court claim6 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 5 years in Scotland
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check the recall notice for the model and batch numbers.
Step 2 of 5
Stop using the product if the notice says so.
Step 3 of 5
Contact the company named in the notice for a repair, replacement or refund.
Step 4 of 5
If that does not work, ask the seller under your consumer rights. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 5 of 5
Report problems with a recall to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
The Retailer's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, and say which remedy you want.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Free advice, and help deciding whether to start a small claim, once the seller has not put it right.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
For car recalls, see our separate car recall guide.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/news/new-product-recalls-and-alerts-site Checked 13 October 2026
- gov.uk/guidance/consumer-products-reporting-product-safety-issues Checked 13 October 2026
- nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/what-do-if-problems-arise-supplied-goods Checked 12 October 2026
- businesscompanion.info/node/623/printable/print Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/small-claims/deciding-whether-to-make-a-small-claim Checked 8 October 2026