If you have bought an item of clothing, it must be:

• Of satisfactory quality.
• Fit for its purpose.
• As described.

This means it must be:

• Fit to be worn; the seams should not be coming apart or the material flawed.
• What you asked for; for example, waterproof.
• The same size as stated on the label.

If you have only worn it a few times or haven’t had a reasonable opportunity to check it, you have the right to reject the item of clothing and seek a refund if it has a fault or does not meet the requirements listed above. For assistance in this process, use our request a refund for faulty goods letter, our letter to request a refund for goods not fit for their intended purpose, or our letter to request a refund for goods not matching their description, as appropriate.

If the fault is only minor and can easily be put right, it is reasonable to accept a repair. To request a repair from the seller, you can use our letter to request a repair for faulty goods. The seller must carry out this repair at no additional cost to you. The repair must also be of a good standard, or else you are entitled to a refund. If you have requested a repair and the seller has not repaired it properly, use our letter requesting a refund for goods not properly repaired.

If you have worn it more than a few times or have had a reasonable opportunity to check it, you are probably still entitled to a repair or replacement. A repair should be carried out within a reasonable period of time and without causing you significant inconvenience. Any repair should restore it to a satisfactory condition. If this does not happen, you are entitled to a replacement or compensation. This could be a sum of money or the cost of having somebody else repair the item.

If an item of clothing purchased has a fault and you would like a repair from the seller, this should be completed at no additional expense to you. For assistance in making this request, you can use our letter to request a repair for faulty goods. If after making this request, an item of clothing has not been repaired properly, use our letter requesting a refund for goods not properly repaired to get your money back.

If the item of clothing cannot be replaced or repaired economically, you are entitled to a refund. The trader may make a reduction from the price you paid to allow for the use you have had from the clothing.

If anything else has been damaged, for example, if the colour ran due to a fault and discoloured other clothes, or you are out of pocket in any other way, you may be entitled to compensation over and above the price of the item. Use our request compensation from the seller for any additional damage caused by faulty goods letter to request compensation in this instance.

• Remember, if you are entitled to a refund, replacement, repair or compensation, it is the trader who must sort out your problem. The trader cannot tell you to go back to the manufacturer.
• You have no rights if the item simply doesn’t fit.
• You have no rights if you simply change your mind.
• You have no rights if you have selected the wrong clothes for a particular use.

However, you have seven working days to cancel a contract for goods ordered by telephone, mail order, internet or fax, except for those goods which are made to order.

Remember that all clothes need to be looked after and no items last forever. However, if there is a genuine fault in the item of clothing and the seller refuses to acknowledge his responsibility to fix the situation, then use our letter to reject a seller's denial of responsibility for faulty goods. Do not let the seller tell you to go back to the manufacturer.

As soon as you have determined that there is a problem with an item of clothing that you have purchased:

• Stop wearing the item of clothing.
• Make certain that the fault was not caused by misuse, an accident, normal wear and tear or by not following the care label.
• Locate your proof of purchase. If you haven’t got a receipt, you can use a credit card voucher or cheque stub. Own-brand goods, something exclusive to one shop (such as a customised carrier bag) or the packaging may prove where you bought the item. If someone was with you when you bought it, they can back you up. Remember that it is up to you to show where and when you bought the clothes.
• You will now need to contact the trader straight away and report the problem. If you bought the clothes locally, visit the trader. Take the item, the packaging (if possible) and any proof of purchase with you. If you cannot take the clothes back to the shop, either phone or write to the trader.