AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, every contract to supply goods to a UK consumer includes terms that the goods are of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose made known, and as described, and the trader who sells them is liable, whoever made them. A consumer with faulty goods can reject them within 30 days, then ask for repair or replacement, then a price reduction or final rejection; faults within six months of delivery are presumed to have been there at delivery.
When you import goods from Nigeria and sell them to UK consumers, you are the trader in law. If a dress falls apart in the first wash or a hair oil is not what the label says, the customer's claim is against you, not your supplier in Aba or Kano. Your recourse against the supplier depends on your own contract with them. This guide covers the duties in Part 1, Chapter 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
The terms every sale includes
| Section | Term | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| s.9 | Goods to be of satisfactory quality | The quality must be satisfactory for goods of that kind and price |
| s.10 | Fit for a particular purpose | If the customer told you what they needed it for, it must do that |
| s.11 | Goods to be as described | The listing, label and photos must match what arrives: fibre content, size, ingredients |
| s.13-14 | Match a sample or model | If you showed a sample, the goods must match it |
| s.17 | Right to supply | You must have the right to sell the goods |
Section 31 says a term is not binding on the consumer to the extent that it would exclude or restrict the trader's liability for these. A notice such as "imported goods, no refunds" does not remove them.
The remedies, in order
- Short-term right to reject (s.20 and s.22): the consumer can reject and get a refund within 30 days, starting the day after ownership or possession has transferred and the goods are delivered. For goods expected to perish sooner, such as some foods, the period is that shorter time.
- Repair or replacement (s.23): the consumer can ask for either. While they wait, the 30-day clock pauses (s.22(6)).
- Price reduction or final right to reject (s.24): generally the next stage where repair or replacement has not worked; read s.24 for the exact conditions.
Under s.19(14), goods that do not conform at any time within six months of delivery are treated as not having conformed on the day of delivery, unless it is established that they did, or the presumption does not fit the nature of the goods. In practice, in the first six months, it is for you to show the item was fine when delivered.
Why this hits importers harder
- You cannot pass a customer's claim back to a supplier in another country; you refund first and pursue the supplier under your contract.
- Return shipping to Nigeria for repair is slow, and the 30-day and repair periods keep running from the customer's side.
- Descriptions are a frequent problem with imports: a fabric sold as "100% cotton" that is a blend breaches s.11, and textile fibre labelling rules too.
- Product safety is separate from the Act: the Office for Product Safety and Standards says you must keep records of your suppliers and report safety risks to the manufacturer, supplier or Trading Standards.
Handling a complaint
- Ask for photos and the order details, and reply promptly; the time limits run whether or not you answer.
- Work out which stage applies: within 30 days of delivery, the customer may simply reject for a refund.
- If the customer prefers a repair or replacement, agree it in writing and note the date, because the waiting period affects the time limit.
- Record what you found when the item came back, and keep it with the supplier file for any claim against your Nigerian maker.
Protecting your business
- Inspect stock on arrival in the UK, before it reaches customers, and record defects with photos.
- Write a supply contract with your Nigerian maker covering quality standards, defect rates and who pays for faulty batches.
- Keep descriptions exact: fibre content, dimensions, ingredients, care instructions.
- Hold a small UK stock for replacements so you can meet a replacement request quickly.
- Consider product liability cover; see insurance for imported goods.
Worked example
Example only. A customer buys a £120 aso-oke set on 1 March; it is delivered on 3 March. On 20 March the seam splits. The 30-day short-term right to reject runs from 4 March, so the customer can still reject for a full refund. If the customer instead asks for a replacement and waits 10 days for it, those 10 days do not count towards the 30. If the seam splits in August, still within six months of delivery, the fault is presumed to have been there at delivery, and the customer can ask for repair or replacement.
Change-of-mind returns for online sales are a separate right under different rules; see handling returns on Nigerian-made goods.
Where Pryme fits
Refunds to UK customers and claims against Nigerian suppliers run in different currencies. A Pryme Business Account holds GBP and NGN together, and verifiable receipts through VerifyDoc.ai help when you need to show what was paid and when. This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Am I liable for faulty goods I imported from Nigeria?
Yes. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the trader who sells to the consumer is responsible for quality, fitness for purpose and description, whoever made the goods.
How long does a customer have to reject faulty goods?
30 days, starting the day after the goods are delivered and ownership or possession has passed. Perishable goods have a shorter period.
Can I say no refunds on imported items?
No. Section 31 says terms that exclude or restrict the trader's liability under these rules are not binding on the consumer.
What is the six-month rule?
Under s.19(14), goods that fail to conform within six months of delivery are treated as not having conformed at delivery, unless it is shown that they did.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act 2015, Part 1 Chapter 2 (goods) · accessed Oct 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 19 · accessed Oct 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK (OPSS): Product safety advice for businesses (updated 21 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.