⚖ Consumer Rights Checker

Fridge or Freezer Stopped Working? UK Consumer Rights

If your fridge or freezer fails and food spoils as a direct result, you may be able to claim for that loss too — on top of the repair, replacement or refund for the appliance itself.

Frequently asked questions about fridge / freezer faults

Can I claim for the food that spoiled?

Potentially, as a foreseeable consequential loss, but retailers often resist this — keep receipts or a reasonable estimate, and raise it as a separate part of your claim rather than assuming it's automatic.

My fridge-freezer stopped cooling after a year, what now?

Report it to the retailer, ask for a repair or replacement, and keep evidence: photos, an engineer's report if you get one, and dates. Past 6 months, you carry the burden of showing it's a fault, not fair wear and tear.

Is noise or ice build-up alone a valid fault?

It can be, if it's beyond what's reasonable for the model and affects how it functions — a normal amount of operating noise or occasional defrosting isn't.

What if the retailer has gone into administration?

If you paid over £100 on a credit card, Section 75 makes the card provider jointly liable, so you can claim from them instead.

The short version

Time since purchaseWhat you can ask for
0–30 daysFull refund
31 days–6 monthsFree repair or replacement, then refund
6 months–6 yearsSame, but you show the fault is inherent
General information based on the Consumer Rights Act 2015, not legal advice. See Citizens Advice: Return faulty goods or the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for the full legal text.