No General Right to a Refund for Change of Mind
Canadian law does not recognize a general consumer right to a refund simply because the consumer has changed their mind. Return policies are set by the retailer and are enforceable if they were disclosed before purchase. A posted 'all sales final' policy is typically enforceable for change-of-mind returns.
Statutory refund rights exist only in specific situations where the law intervenes to protect the consumer.
When the Law Intervenes
The law requires a refund in several specific situations: the goods are defective, not as described, or not fit for their ordinary purpose (implied warranties under the Sale of Goods Act and CPA s. 9); the consumer is cancelling a direct agreement within the 10-day cooling-off period; an unfair practice under the CPA has occurred; or the consumer is cancelling an internet agreement under the CPA s. 40 disclosure and delivery rules.
Outside these situations, the consumer is limited to the retailer's voluntary return policy.
Practical Guidance
Documenting the purchase, the defect (if any), and the communication with the supplier is central to making any statutory refund claim. Credit card purchases provide an additional route through the chargeback mechanism.
Where a statutory refund right applies and the supplier refuses, escalation options include a chargeback, a complaint to Consumer Protection Ontario, and a civil claim in Small Claims Court within the limitation period.