This guide is maintained as a current resource for September 2026 and covers only the laws of England and Wales. Information is for general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Learn what unsolicited goods are and how UK consumer law protects you if you receive products you never ordered. This guide covers your rights, how unsolicited goods differ from mis‑sold products, legal obligations, practical steps to take, and common questions about unwanted deliveries.
When consumers in England and Wales purchase products, the law provides a range of protections if those products are mis‑sold - for example, if they were misdescribed, of poor quality, or sold without accurate information. A related but distinct issue occurs when unsolicited goods are sent to a consumer without their order or request. Many people wrongly assume they must pay for, return, or dispute unsolicited deliveries; UK law provides specific rights in these situations. This article explains what unsolicited goods are, how they differ from mis‑sold products, the legal rights that apply, practical steps to take, and common questions consumers may have.
What Are Unsolicited Goods?
Unsolicited goods are items delivered to an individual without the consumer having ordered, requested or agreed to receive them. These goods may arrive through errors, aggressive marketing tactics, inertia selling, or other unintended means. Unlike typical purchases, unsolicited goods are not covered by a normal contract because the consumer never consented to the contract in the first place.
Distinguishing Unsolicited Goods from Mis‑Sold Products
Mis‑Sold Products
A mis‑sold product involves a contract that was formed but where the terms, description, or sales process was defective. For example, a product might have been described incorrectly, sold under misleading claims, or without required consumer information. Remedies in these cases usually involve contractual or statutory claims under laws such as the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or protections against unfair trading.
Unsolicited Goods
By contrast, with unsolicited goods there is no contract because there was no agreement by the consumer to buy. The law treats these items differently, and special rights apply when no purchase was ever agreed. The consumer did not enter into a sale contract, so they are not considered mis‑sold in the contractual sense.
Your Rights Regarding Unsolicited Goods
No Obligation to Pay or Return
If you receive goods you did not order, you are not legally obliged to pay for them. The seller cannot lawfully demand payment, and you do not have to return the goods to the sender. You may also choose to keep or dispose of them as you wish.
This principle reflects the idea that no contract exists where no offer, acceptance and consideration were ever given. Without a contract, the seller has no legal basis to enforce payment or delivery obligations.
Unjustified Payment Demands Are Unlawful
It is illegal for a trader to demand payment, threaten legal action, or send debt collection notices for unsolicited goods. Under consumer protection laws, including provisions that form part of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the updated unfair commercial practice framework, such behaviour can be treated as an unfair or misleading commercial practice.
In practice, if a company sends unsolicited goods and then attempts to collect payment or threatens enforcement, this may amount to a criminal offence, specifically demanding payment for goods not solicited under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (or its replacement provisions).
Inertia Selling and Gifts
When goods are sent without a request, this is often referred to as inertia selling. Under UK law, you are generally entitled to treat unsolicited goods as if they were an unconditional gift. The sender's rights to the goods are extinguished if the consumer has no obligation or contract.
How Unsolicited Goods Situations Arise
Unsolicited goods may arrive through:
- Administrative errors by suppliers or couriers.
- Marketing tactics where a trader hopes a recipient will assume an implied contract exists.
- Scams or fraud attempts designed to trick consumers into paying.
In each case where you did not order the item, law protects you from being treated as having accepted or required to pay for the goods in question.
Practical Steps If You Receive Unsolicited Goods
Step 1: Confirm They Were Not Ordered
Check your records, online orders, and accounts to ensure you did not authorise purchase or delivery. This helps confirm the goods are genuinely unsolicited.
Step 2: Do Not Pay or Respond to Payment Demands
Refuse to comply with any requests for payment. If you are contacted about unpaid invoices, demands or threats of legal action, respond by explaining that you never ordered the goods and that you have no contractual obligations. Keep copies of all correspondence.
Step 3: Document the Situation
Retain evidence of delivery, any communications received, and your response. This documentation can help if the sender persists or threatens action.
Step 4: Contact Trading Standards or Citizens Advice
If the sender continues to demand payment or threatens legal enforcement, consider seeking guidance from Trading Standards, Citizens Advice or a consumer rights organisation. These bodies can provide information on unlawful commercial practices and help escalate complaints where necessary.
Time Limits and Legal Considerations
Because unsolicited goods do not create a contract, traditional limitation periods for breach of contract do not apply. Instead, consumers are safeguarded by the absence of contractual obligations unless evidence of a valid contract is shown.
If a sender claims you did enter a contract and asserts payment rights, the burden of proof is on the seller to demonstrate that a contract was validly formed - including an offer by the seller, acceptance by you, and consideration (payment or promise of payment). Without clear evidence, their claim will fail.
Unsolicited Services Versus Goods
The legal stance on unsolicited services operates on similar principles: if a company performs work you did not agree to, you are generally not obliged to pay or accept the services unless you explicitly consented. Before acting, traders must establish that a valid agreement exists. This protection is reflected in consumer laws covering unfair trading and distance selling.
Common Questions
Can I keep goods sent by mistake?
Yes. If you received goods without ordering them and have no contractual relationship with the sender, you can keep them and are not obligated to pay. Any attempt to demand payment is unlawful.
Does unsolicited delivery affect warranty or statutory rights?
No. Statutory consumer rights, such as those under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, do not apply to unsolicited goods because there is no contract. These rights apply only when goods are supplied under a valid contract.
What if the sender claims I ordered them?
The sender must prove that a valid contract exists. A mere statement or invoice is insufficient; clear evidence of your offer to purchase and acceptance by the seller is required.
Am I responsible for return costs?
No - since there is no contract, there is also no obligation to return the goods. You may choose to return them at your discretion, but you do not have to under the law.
Key Takeaways
Unsolicited goods - items sent without your request - are treated differently from mis‑sold products in English and Welsh consumer law. You are not obliged to pay for, return, or otherwise accept liability for unsolicited goods. Demanding payment or threatening legal action in these scenarios is unlawful under consumer protection and unfair trading regulations. If you receive goods you did not order, confirm they are unsolicited, refuse payment demands, document communications, and seek advice from relevant consumer bodies. Understanding these rights protects you from abusive or deceptive commercial practices and ensures you are not held responsible for unwanted deliveries.
