Goods bought from a shop must be fit for the purpose for which they were bought, match any description given and be of satisfactory quality. Goods should be what you reasonably expect them to be considering the price you paid. If these requirements are not met you may have a legal right to reject them and get your money back. If you cannot return to the shop for some days you should phone to say you have a problem with the goods and want to reject them and get a refund.

If you keep an item for several weeks without properly checking it and then find a fault, you may have difficulty returning it and getting a refund because you have had 'reasonable' time to use the goods. There is no legal definition of what a 'reasonable' time is.

If you take goods back because they're of unsatisfactory quality, not fit for their purpose or do not match their description, then you don't have to accept a credit note: you are within your legal rights to ask for your money back. If however you accept a credit note when you were entitled to a refund, you cannot later change your mind unless you can prove that the seller forced you to accept the credit note.

If you've returned goods because you just changed your mind about them e.g. you did not like the colour, then you do not have the legal right to a refund. If the seller offers you a credit note in these circumstances they are doing more than is required by law.

You can approach your local Citizens Advice Bureau for further advice.