Consumers now have the right to refuse and refund

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Shoppers ordering custom-made furniture have a clear right to reject the final product and claim a refund if the delivered item differs significantly from what they paid for, lawyer Jassim Al Essa has told The Daily Tribune.

His comments come amid rising complaints from customers who say finished pieces often don’t match the specifications, design or quality they agreed to.

According to Al Essa, the key issue is the extent of the mismatch and whether it undermines the purpose of the purchase—especially in cases where the shop refuses to redo the work. “In such situations, the buyer can insist that the contract be fulfilled as agreed, or move to terminate it and seek compensation for any damages,” he explained.

He pointed to Article 8 of the Consumer Protection Law (Law No. 35 of 2012), which obliges suppliers to replace defective or non-conforming goods—or take them back and refund the full price—at no extra cost to the consumer.

Al Essa added that custom-made furniture orders fall under the Bahraini Civil Code (Law No. 19 of 2001), either as a contract for work or as a sale of goods to be delivered later according to a set description. In both cases, the seller is legally required to provide items that match the agreed specifications, and major deviations amount to a serious breach.

If faced with a faulty delivery, the buyer should formally notify the seller that the goods are being rejected due to non-conformity and request a full refund. Should the seller fail to respond, the consumer can file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Directorate.

For those pursuing civil action, Al Essa cited Article 140/A of the Civil Code, which allows the non-breaching party to ask the court—after proper notice—to enforce the contract or rescind it, with compensation where applicable. Buyers may send notice through registered mail with proof of receipt, giving the seller seven days to reply before proceeding to court.

If the contract is rescinded, Articles 142/A and 147 require both parties to be restored to the positions they held before the agreement, in line with the Civil Code’s rules on termination and rescission.