Returns & refunds

CAT Eco Store Returns Policy

The Centre for Alternative Technology adheres to the Consumer Contracts Regulations, which are designed to protect you when buying items by mail order.

Our Returns Policy is provided electronically with each order; if a paper copy is also required then please email your request to us at mail.order@cat.org.uk.

Exchange / cancellation of your order

In the event that you wish to exchange goods or return your order you must notify us prior to returning. Goods must be returned within 14 days of the receipt of your order. Where we are issuing a refund on returned goods, this will be processed within 14 days of receipt of the goods by our warehouse.

Where the items are returned because:

You have ordered the wrong product, or
The product is not compatible with the product it was purchased to be used with

The Consumer Contract Regulations require you to take reasonable care of any goods that you will be returning. We ask that you return them in an unused condition with the original packaging.

A deduction can be made if the value of the goods has been reduced as a result of you handling the goods more than was necessary. The extent to which a customer can handle the goods is the same as it would be if you were assessing them in a shop.

Goods returned under these circumstances are at your own expense. Returns from international addresses are at the buyer's expense.

Please ring 01654705959 or email us at mail.order@cat.org.uk

Where the items are returned because:

We have posted you the wrong part, or
Item specifications are inaccurate

If we send you a part that is different to what is listed on your invoice or if the item specifications on the website were inaccurate, we will make an exchange and either pay your postage costs (for standard class of mailing) for returning the item or arrange collection, dependent on the item in question.

You must ensure that the goods are unused, clean and returned with the original packaging.

Exchange / refunds of faulty, damaged or broken goods

All goods purchased from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) are covered by a Manufacturer Warranty unless otherwise stated. The duration of this warranty is usually one year, but some manufacturers offer an extended warranty, and a limited number of products are subject to a shorter warranty.

Warranties cover manufacturing faults and defects, but do not cover damage caused by abuse, general wear and tear, etc.

If you feel that any product you have purchased from CAT has developed a fault, then please contact us before returning the goods, as many problems may be solved without the need for return. Please ring 01654705959 or email us at mail.order@cat.org.uk

Items found to be faulty within 21 days of receipt can be returned for inspection under the warranty for refund, repair or exchange if covered under the warranty.

Items found to be faulty after 21 days of receipt can be returned for inspection under the warranty for repair or exchange if covered under the warranty. In the event a repair or exchange is not possible then a refund will be offered.

If the goods do need to be returned, please keep the goods clean before returning. A full description of the fault must accompany the return along with your contact details.

If the item is returned within 28 days of receipt, we will pay your postage costs for the return (standard class of mailing, UK only) or arrange collection depending on the item concerned.

Customers making international returns or UK returns over 28 days from the date of receipt are liable for the cost of return postage.

Returns from international addresses are always made at the buyer's expense.

If, at our discretion, we agree to accept any returns outside our published Returns Policy, you will be charged a re-stocking fee, which will be a minimum of £10 and maximum of 25% the sale price. Returns made outside of our returns policy will usually result in store credit and not a refund.