By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
Your consumer rights in Singapore rest mainly on the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA). Its Lemon Law means that if goods are faulty, a defect reported within six months of delivery is presumed to have been there all along, and you can ask the seller for a repair or replacement, then a price reduction or refund if that fails. The Act also bans unfair practices, such as misleading claims and taking advantage of someone who cannot understand the deal. There is no legal right to a refund for a change of mind; that depends on the shop’s own policy. Door-to-door and similar direct sales above S$50, timeshares and long-term holiday packages carry a five-day cooling-off period.
Knowing these few rules turns an awkward counter conversation into a calm, firm one. Here is what they cover and who will help.
Quick facts
- The Lemon Law has applied to contracts made since 1 September 2012.
- It covers new and second-hand goods bought from a business, online included.
- It does not cover services, rentals, property, damage you caused, wear and tear or change of mind.
- The CPFTA lists 24 specific unfair practices, on top of a general ban on misleading conduct.
- The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) is the first stop for complaints; the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (now styled CCS, formerly CCCS) enforces the Act.
- Unresolved disputes up to S$20,000 can go to the Small Claims Tribunals.
What can you ask for, and when?
| Situation | Your right | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Item is faulty within six months | Repair or replacement first; then price cut or refund if that fails | Lemon Law (CPFTA) |
| Fault appears after six months | You can still claim, but you must show the defect existed at delivery | Lemon Law and sale of goods law |
| You were misled or pressured | Seek redress from the seller, through CASE or a tribunal | CPFTA unfair practices |
| Direct sale (home, workplace, roadshow) over S$50, timeshare or long-term holiday product | Cancel within five days | Cancellation of Contracts Regulations |
| You simply changed your mind | Only what the shop’s own policy allows | Shop policy |
What counts as an unfair practice?
A business acts unfairly if it deceives or misleads you, by what it says or what it leaves out, makes a false claim, or exploits someone who is not in a position to protect their own interests. The Act’s schedule names 24 specific tactics, such as false claims about a product’s benefits or about a price advantage. CCS’s price transparency guidelines add that compulsory charges, such as taxes and service fees, should be included in the headline price rather than revealed at checkout, and that add-ons should not be pre-ticked.
How to complain, step by step
- Stop using the item and keep the receipt, packaging and photos of the fault.
- Write to the seller, say what is wrong and which remedy you want, and give a reasonable deadline.
- If they refuse, contact CASE, which can advise and mediate.
- If that fails, file at the Small Claims Tribunals; the fee for an individual’s claim up to S$5,000 is S$10.
Prepaid packages deserve special care. When True Fitness and True Yoga closed on 10 September 2026, CASE recorded 241 complaints and more than S$609,000 in reported losses. The Ministry of Trade and Industry said in September 2026 that a Consumer Protection Review Panel, which is looking at prepayment protection, is expected to report later this year.
The WahLiao Verdict
Test what you buy straight away, keep every receipt, and put complaints in writing within six months. Ask about the return policy before you pay, because change-of-mind refunds are a courtesy, not a right. Walk away from anyone who pushes you to sign today, and if you do sign at a roadshow, remember you have five days. Keep prepaid packages small and short. Most sellers do the right thing when a customer is polite, clear and knows the rules.
Questions people ask
Can a shop just offer store credit for a faulty item?
Under the Lemon Law you may ask for repair or replacement first, then a price reduction or refund if that fails. Store credit is not one of the legal remedies.
Does the Lemon Law cover services like a haircut or a renovation?
No, the Lemon Law covers goods. Services are still protected by the CPFTA’s unfair-practice rules and by contract law.
Is there a cooling-off period for everything?
No. The five-day period applies to direct sales above S$50, timeshares and long-term holiday products, not to ordinary shop purchases.
I bought from an overseas website. Am I protected?
Possibly in law, but a seller with no presence in Singapore may be impossible to pursue. Prefer sellers you can reach here.
Sources: CASE, CPFTA and the Lemon Law; Ministry of Trade and Industry, Lemon Law FAQs; Singapore Statutes Online, Cancellation of Contracts Regulations; CCS, price transparency guidelines; Ministry of Trade and Industry, prepayment protection and the review panel; Mothership, CASE figures on True Fitness. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
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