Repair, replacement or refund for faulty goods, by country
EU law gives consumers the right to choose between repair and replacement first; refund or price reduction come later. Other countries may limit choice or require repair first.
| Country | First remedy (seller must offer) | Consumer choice | If first remedy fails |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Repair or replacement (Nacherfüllung) | Consumer chooses repair or replacement | Rejection of goods or price reduction |
| France | Repair or replacement | Consumer chooses repair or replacement | Refund or price reduction |
Under review
The statute text for these countries has changed since we last checked it, so their figures are hidden until we review them again: Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Japan.
Country by country
Germany
- Rule
- BGB § 437, § 439
- Consumer may demand repair or replacement (Nacherfüllung) first; if this fails or is impossible, consumer can reject goods or reduce price
1. nach § 439 Nacherfüllung verlangen, 2. nach den §§ 440, 323 und 326 Abs. 5 von dem Vertrag zurücktreten oder nach § 441 den Kaufpreis mindern France
- Rule
- Code de la consommation L217-9
- Consumer requests conformity by choosing between repair and replacement from the seller; if unsuccessful, may claim refund or price reduction
Le consommateur sollicite auprès du vendeur la mise en conformité du bien, en choisissant entre la réparation et le remplacement Countries not in this table yet
No additional live countries are missing for this guide.
How this table was built
Every row is taken from the official, consolidated text of the statute, which LawAsked loads from each government’s legislation service.
Each figure is tied to a passage quoted word for word from that text. When the page is served, it checks that every quoted passage is still in the current text of a law that is in force; if a law is amended and its wording changes, that row is hidden until a person reviews it again.
The table shows the statutory minimum only. Collective agreements, awards and individual contracts often give more than the statute, and some countries let a collective agreement set different terms.
Use this data
The table and the CSV are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit LawAsked and link to this page. Quoted statute text stays under the terms of its official source.
How to cite this page
LawAsked, “Repair, replacement or refund for faulty goods, by country”, https://lawasked.com/guides/repair-or-replace (reviewed October 25, 2026).
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General legal information, not formal legal advice. The information provided on LawAsked does not constitute formal legal advice and creates no attorney-client relationship. If you require legal assistance, please consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.