Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Digital Content): Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn your rights to a refund or repair if the digital games or software you purchase are faulty.
This scheme provides legal protection for people who purchase digital products that do not function as promised or contain errors.
Who it's for
This protection is available to all digital content buyers. If you have purchased digital goods—such as software, video games, or other digital files—you are covered under these consumer rights.
What you get
If the digital content you have paid for is faulty, you have specific legal rights to resolve the issue. You are entitled to ask for a repair to fix the software or a refund to recover your money. This ensures that the products you pay for perform correctly and meet the standards expected of digital media.
What it costs you
There is no cost to claim these rights; the process is free. To successfully claim a repair or a refund, you must be able to provide proof of purchase. This usually involves showing a digital receipt, a bank statement, or a confirmation email from the retailer to prove the transaction took place.
The catch to know
It is important to remember that digital goods are often harder to return than physical ones. Because digital content is often delivered through downloads or streaming rather than a tangible package, the process of returning or proving a fault can be more complex than returning a physical item to a shop.
How to apply
- Check the digital content to confirm that it is actually faulty or not performing as described.
- Gather your proof of purchase, such as an email receipt or a transaction record from your bank.
- Contact the retailer or the platform where you bought the software to explain the fault.
- Request either a repair to fix the digital issue or a full refund for the faulty product.