‘How can I return a gift in secret?’ Your Christmas return rights explained

Returning an unwanted Christmas gift might not be as simple as you think

We’ve rounded up the final dates for returning Christmas gifts (iStock)

Receiving presents is great, but there’s no better feeling than buying someone a gift that really knocks it out of the park. Unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan when it comes to Christmas gift giving.

This festive season, you may have found yourself in the position where you need to return a present – either one you received, or one you gifted to someone else. Maybe it’s an item of clothing that doesn’t fit, or a piece of tech that’s become faulty after a few days.

In the era of online shopping, we’re used to being able to send back items for any reason at all for a full refund. It’s no surprise, then, that we’re used to our refund rights being granted, but your legal rights may not be as strong as you think when it comes to items bought in-store.

Below, I’ve answered some common questions about getting your money back on a Christmas gift, from returning a present in secret to getting a repair for a broken item. Plus, I’ve rounded up a list of last return dates for major stores, including John Lewis, Argos, The Entertainer and more over the Christmas period.

Do I have a legal right to return an item?

A common misconception is that you have a legal right to return an item you bought in-store, even if there’s nothing wrong with it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

When you shop online, you do have the right to return a product within 28 days, provided that you let the retailer know within 14 days of delivery. But if you want to return something you bought in person, it’s up to the store whether or not to let you take the item back for a refund.

Most major retailers do let you return items if you change your mind. How long you’ll have to do this depends on the store’s individual policy. For your returns options with some of the most popular stores over the festive season, keep reading.

Can I return a faulty item?

Yes, you have a legal right to return a faulty item within 30 days of buying or receiving the goods. After 30 days have passed, you can ask the retailer for a repair or replacement. This applies to items bought either in-store or online.

It’s helpful to remember that your rights are with the retailer, not the manufacturer. So if the shop you bought the item from tells you that you need to speak to the company that made the item, this is incorrect and you should point this out.

I’ve been given a gift I don’t want – can I return it without the buyer knowing?

This is tricky but, depending on the circumstances, not impossible.

Again, neither you nor the buyer has a legal right to return an item bought in-store. If you bring the item in-store along with a gift receipt, the store may grant you a refund, but you might just be offered an exchange or store credit.

If the item was bought online, then the buyer has the right to return it within 28 days as outlined above. But if you’re not the buyer, you’ll struggle to do this without involving them, so maybe a frank conversation is needed.

How long do I have to return Christmas gifts?

Many stores are more generous with their return policies over Christmas. To save you from scouring the websites yourself, we’ve rounded up all the dates you need to know below. Make sure you get your gift returned before the deadline.

• Argos: 31 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 26 September and Christmas Day)
• Boots: 31 January 2026 (for items bought online from 1 October to 31 January). Items bought in-store are subject to Boots’ regular 35-day returns policy
• Currys: 23 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 29 October and 24 December 2025)
• John Lewis: 23 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 1 October and 24 December)
• M&S: 25 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online on or after 9 October)
• New Look: 4 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 27 October and 7 December)
• Next: 4 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 24 October and Christmas Day)
• Nobody's Child: 5 January 2026 (for full-price items bought online on or after 18 November). Items bought in-store are subject to Nobody’s Child’s regular 30-day returns policy
• Smyths: 31 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online on or after 1 September)
• The Entertainer: 18 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 30 September and 24 December)
• Uniqlo: 31 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 10 November and 24 December)
• Weekday: 31 January 2026 (for items bought in-store or online between 14 November and 14 December)