Letter to warn trader about court action for faulty goods by Citizens Advice
Updated 17 October 2025
This is a formal letter sent before initiating a court claim, typically by a consumer to a trader, demanding a refund for faulty goods. It references the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and warns of legal proceedings if a satisfactory resolution is not reached within a specified timeframe. The letter also offers to engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Letter before court claim
Sam Hoolin
8 Park Avenue
Arlton AL1 4CA
[email protected]
01632 960001
Giltham Traders
24 Station Road
Giltham GT16 3LP
12 September 2025
To whom it may concern,
Re: Faulty Washing machine Indesit GX345
I have not received a reply to my letter dated 14 January 2022 regarding the faulty goods which I bought from you on 7 December 2021. The letter explained what is wrong with the goods and why I am entitled to a refund.
I am once again requesting a full refund of the purchase price of £300 on the grounds that the goods were not of satisfactory quality under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. I enclose a copy of the proof of purchase.
I would like a reply as soon as possible so that I know you have received this letter. If you don't agree to the refund, could you please then send me a detailed response saying why you don't agree.
To avoid taking court action, I am willing to use Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve this problem.
If I do not receive a satisfactory response from you within 14 days of the date of this letter, I intend to issue proceedings against you in the county court without further notice. This may increase your liability for costs.
I refer you to the Practice Direction on pre-action conduct under the Civil Procedure Rules, and in particular to paragraph 13-16 which sets out the sanctions the court may impose if you fail to comply with the Practice Direction.
I look forward to your acknowledgement.
Yours faithfully,
Sam Hoolin
Enc: copy of proof of purchase
About this template
What is this template?
Letter to warn trader about court action for faulty goods by Citizens Advice is a free, ready-to-use Consumer law template you can open, customize, and download on GitLaw. It gives you a professionally structured starting point, so you never have to draft from a blank page. The wording is plain and modern, organized into clear sections that are easy to read, edit, and adapt to your own situation before you share or sign it.
When should you use it?
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What's typically included?
A well-drafted Consumer law usually sets out the parties involved, the scope of the agreement, and each side's rights and responsibilities. Expect sections covering key terms and definitions, how long the agreement lasts, how it can be ended, and what happens if something goes wrong. This template brings those building blocks together in a sensible order, so you can focus on the specifics rather than worrying about what to include. Open it to read the full document, then sign up to edit, negotiate, and e-sign it directly in GitLaw.