Does the AI get your refund rights right?
The exact prompt “I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?”
- Asked 26 June 2026
- N=3, memory off
- 6 models
- Copilot joined 18 Jul 2026
- graded vs the primary source
4 of 5 got it right; 1 were partial or hedged.
- Claude Correct Max · paid 3/3 correct: yes, Consumer Rights Act 2015 30-day right to reject, against the retailer; sensible non-lawyer caveats.
- Gemini Correct Pro · paid 3/3 correct, web-sourced (Which / solicitors). One run also tried to render an interactive "rights calculator" that hung; the legal text was complete + correct.
- Grok Correct Free · Grok 4.3 Fast 3/3 correct: yes, the 30-day short-term right to reject; cited Citizens Advice / Which.
- Copilot Correct Free · Smart 3/3 correct, correctly led: every run opens "Yes", Consumer Rights Act 2015, 30-day right to reject, full refund. Correct law, mostly dressed in third-party legal-SEO citations; GOV.UK appears once, unlinked.
- Perplexity Partial Free Partial: 1/3 clean "yes, within 30 days"; 1/3 hedged ("Not automatically a full refund, but…") but landed right; 1/3 LED with a confident wrong claim ("…three weeks, which is after the normal 30-day short-term right to reject": 21 < 30) then self-corrected lower down. Real law, no fabrication, but a skim-reader takes the wrong lead.
- ChatGPT Not captured Free Not captured this run.
Each row is the verdict from N=3 runs, graded case-by-case against the primary source. A confidently wrong answer is the worst outcome: a wrong answer served as reliable, with no hedge, whether invented outright or a real figure served in the wrong field. Appropriate refusal, when no answer is possible, is not a miss.
A wrong answer here costs you real money or a right you actually have. The law is clear and public, but it is the kind of question where a confident, slightly-wrong answer sends you away thinking you have no claim.
Yes. Consumer Rights Act 2015 short-term right to reject: 30 days for a full refund on faulty goods, and 3 weeks is inside 30 days. In-person purchase, so the 14-day distance cooling-off does not apply. Leading with "after the 30-day right" is wrong (21 < 30).
Primary source: Consumer Rights Act 2015, 30-day short-term right to reject faulty goods (gov.uk).
The saved answer behind each grade above, exactly as it came back. Open any one.
ClClaude answered, correct26 Jun 2026
- Run 1
- temporary/incognito chat, memory off
- The everyday battery
I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?
Yes, very likely. Here's the framework, though I'm not a lawyer, so treat this as general information rather than formal legal advice.
Your purchase is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires goods to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. A kettle that stops working through no fault of yours falls short of "satisfactory quality."
The key point in your favour is timing. The Act gives you a short-term right to reject faulty goods within 30 days of purchase, and you're at roughly three weeks. Within that window you're entitled to reject the kettle and get a full refund, not just a repair or replacement, and the shop can't make a deduction for the use you've had out of it. The refund should be given without undue delay, and within 14 days of the shop agreeing you're entitled to it, using the same payment method you originally used.
Two things worth knowing. First, your claim is against the shop that sold it to you, not the manufacturer, so don't let them fob you off to the kettle's maker. Second, because you're within the first six months, the law presumes the fault was present at the time of purchase, and it's on the shop to prove otherwise if they want to dispute it, rather than on you to prove the kettle was faulty from the start. "Through no fault of mine" is the crucial phrase here, since the protection covers genuine faults but not accidental damage or misuse.
Practically: take the kettle and your proof of purchase (receipt, bank statement, or order confirmation all work) back to the shop, say clearly that you're exercising your short-term right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and ask for a full refund. If they refuse, you can escalate in writing, and Citizens Advice can help if it comes to that.
If you'd like, I can draft a short, firm message or letter you could use if the shop pushes back.
Saved 26 Jun 2026 as docs/
GeGemini answered, correct26 Jun 2026
- Run 1
- temporary chat, memory off
- The everyday battery
I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?
Yes, you are legally entitled to a full refund.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, any product you buy from a UK retailer must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. Because your kettle stopped working through no fault of your own within the first 30 days, you are within your window to exercise your "short-term right to reject" the item. Which.co.uk + 1
This means you can insist on getting your money back. The shop cannot force you to accept a repair, a replacement, or a credit note instead.
How to Claim Your Refund
Gather proof of purchase: A paper receipt is ideal, but a bank or credit card statement clearly showing the transaction is legally acceptable proof. MSR Solicitors
Go back to the shop: Your legal contract is with the retailer who sold you the kettle, not the manufacturer. Do not let the shop tell you that you need to contact the brand or manufacturer directly. Which.co.uk
Be clear about your rights: Take the kettle back before your 30-day window expires. Explain that it is faulty and explicitly state that you are requesting a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act.
Saved 26 Jun 2026 as docs/
PePerplexity answered, partial26 Jun 2026
- Run 3
- incognito chat, memory off
- The everyday battery
I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?
Probably not a full refund as of right, because you bought it in person and the kettle failed after three weeks, which is after the normal 30-day short-term right to reject for a full refund. Under UK law, if a fault appears after 30 days but within six months, you usually have the right to ask the retailer for a repair or replacement first; the retailer must prove the fault was not present at sale if they want to avoid responsibility.
What you can claim
Because the kettle is faulty through no fault of yours, you can pursue a remedy from the shop you bought it from, not the manufacturer.
At three weeks, you are still within the first 30 days, so in principle you may still be able to reject the kettle and seek a full refund if the fault makes it not of satisfactory quality or not fit for purpose.
If the shop argues against a refund, they should still offer a repair or replacement, and a refund may become available if repair or replacement is impossible, not done in a reasonable time, or fails.
Practical next step
Go back to the retailer with proof of purchase and say the kettle is faulty and you want to exercise your Consumer Rights Act rights. If they resist, ask for the manager and state that a shop cannot lawfully exclude statutory rights with a "no refunds" policy.
Likely outcome
If you are still within 30 days of purchase, you have the strongest case for a full refund; if the shop treats it as outside that window, the next best remedy is usually repair or replacement, not an automatic refund.
Saved 26 Jun 2026 as docs/
Re-tested 2 August 2026 (N=3, free tier, clean conditions): materially worse. Two of three runs led with the same wrong "outside the 30 days" claim and neither self-corrected; one run got it right. Captures: perplexity-kettle-clean-2026-08-02. Ben-signed s229.
GrGrok answered, correct26 Jun 2026
- Run 1
- private/incognito chat, memory off
- The everyday battery
I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?
**Yes, you are very likely entitled to a full refund.** [CitizensAdvice]
Under the **Consumer Rights Act 2015**, goods sold in the UK (including from high-street shops) must be:
- Of satisfactory quality (not faulty or damaged) - Fit for purpose - As described
A kettle that stops working after three weeks (with no fault on your part) almost certainly breaches the "satisfactory quality" requirement. [Which]
### Your key right: the 30-day "short-term right to reject"
- You have **30 days** from the date you took ownership/possession of the goods (usually the purchase date for in-store buys) to reject the item and demand a **full refund**. - Three weeks is well within this window. - You do **not** have to accept a repair, replacement, or store credit if you prefer a refund. - The retailer cannot deduct for "use" or impose other fees in this period (with limited exceptions, like motor vehicles). [MoneySavingExpert]
### What to do next
- **Contact the shop promptly** (in writing if possible — email or letter — and keep records). Explain the fault, that it occurred through no fault of yours, and that you are exercising your right to reject the goods under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for a full refund. - Take the kettle and proof of purchase (receipt) with you. - The retailer must refund you **without undue delay** (and in any event within 14 days once they agree you're entitled). [gov.uk]
### After 30 days
"Your rights are slightly weaker: the retailer would first get a chance to repair or replace it. Only if that fails (or isn't done reasonably) could you then claim a full or partial refund. But since you're still inside 30 days, you have the strongest position." [Which]
### Evidence and proof
Within the first 6 months, it's assumed the fault was present when you bought it (the burden is on the retailer to prove otherwise). You don't need to prove it was faulty on day one. [MoneyHelper]
**Sources for more details**: Citizens Advice, Which?, and MoneySavingExpert all have excellent free guides on this. If the shop pushes back unreasonably, contact Citizens Advice or consider the small claims process (it's straightforward for these amounts).
Act quickly to stay within the 30-day window!
Saved 26 Jun 2026 as docs/
CoCopilot answered, correct18 Jul 2026
- Run 1
- fresh chat via "New chat" button, memory ON per run spec — recorded as-found, not toggled
- Copilot joins the board
I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?
Copilot said
Yes — because the kettle failed within 30 days, you have a legal right to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. [citation: uklegalguides.com — "How to Claim a Refund for Broken or Faulty Products (England & Wales 2026) – UKLegalGuides.com"] [citation: commoner-law.com — "Faulty Goods in the UK (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements"]
🧾 Your entitlement (short answer)
You bought the kettle three weeks ago, it has developed a fault not caused by you, and you purchased it from a UK retailer. That means you can reject the product and demand a full refund, and the shop cannot insist on a repair or replacement. This is your short‑term right to reject, which lasts 30 days from purchase. [citation: uklegalguides.com — "How to Claim a Refund for Broken or Faulty Products (England & Wales 2026) – UKLegalGuides.com"] [citation: commoner-law.com — "Faulty Goods in the UK (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements"]
📘 Why you're entitled (the law)
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described.
If a fault appears within 30 days, you may reject the goods and claim a full refund — no repair or replacement required.
Retailers cannot refuse by pointing to manufacturer warranties or "no refunds" signs. [citation: commoner-law.com — "Faulty Goods in the UK (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements"]
🛠️ What to do next
Return to the shop with the kettle and proof of purchase.
State clearly that you are exercising your short‑term right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Ask for a full refund to your original payment method.
The retailer should process the refund within 14 days of agreeing it. [citation: uklegalguides.com — "Faulty Goods: Your Rights to a Refund or Repair (England & Wales 2026) – UKLegalGuides.com"]
🧭 If the shop pushes back
If they try to insist on a repair or replacement, politely restate that the fault occurred within 30 days, so you are entitled to a refund. If they still refuse, your next steps could include contacting Citizens Advice or sending a formal complaint letter.
Want help drafting a complaint letter?
I can generate a clear, legally‑grounded letter quoting the correct sections of the Act. Would you like me to draft a complaint letter for you?
[source chips: www.uklegalguides.com — How to Claim a Refund for Broken or Faulty Products (England & Wales 2026) – UKLegalGuides.com | commoner-law.com — Faulty Goods in the UK (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements | "Show all"]
Saved 18 Jul 2026 as docs/
Writing about this? Copy the verified result with attribution. The per-question grades are machine-readable as first-party JSON at /scoreboard/rdri.json (CC BY 4.0).
AI Reliability Scoreboard: Does the AI get your refund rights right? Asked (26 June 2026): "I bought a kettle in person from a UK high-street shop three weeks ago and it has stopped working through no fault of mine. Am I entitled to a full refund?" Correct answer: Consumer Rights Act 2015, 30-day short-term right to reject faulty goods (gov.uk). Result across 6 AI assistants (N=3, memory off; Copilot, joined 18 Jul 2026, memory on as found, disclosed; graded vs the primary source): 4 of 5 got it right; 1 were partial or hedged. Source: https://dixon.ai/scoreboard/q/uk-faulty-goods-refund-rights/, DIXON.AI (CC BY 4.0)
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