Directive 2011/83/EU (art. 13)
The trader's refund obligation in EU law (Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 13) - and France's art. L.221-24
The trader's refund obligation
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Article 13 of Directive 2011/83/EU requires the trader to refund all sums paid (product + standard delivery) within 14 days of the withdrawal, using the same means of payment - the same duty in all 27 member states. France transposes it in article L.221-24; in Ireland it sits in S.I. No. 484/2013 (CCPC).
The rule - and France's article L.221-24
Under article 13 of Directive 2011/83/EU, where the right of withdrawal is exercised the trader refunds all sums paid, including delivery costs, without undue delay and at the latest within fourteen days of being informed of the decision to withdraw, using the same means of payment as the initial transaction unless the consumer agrees otherwise; the trader need not refund the extra cost of a delivery method more expensive than the standard one. France transposes this in article L.221-24 of the Code de la consommation.
A synthesis faithful to the EU text and to France's transposition. Primary source: Directive 2011/83/EU (art. 13) on EUR-Lex. France's transposition, article L.221-24, in full: the French transposition on Legifrance
In plain language
This is the trader-side counterpart of the withdrawal: refund quickly and in full. The EU deadline (Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 13) is 14 days from notification of the withdrawal, in every member state.
The refund covers the price of the product AND the standard delivery costs. If the customer chose a more expensive express delivery, the trader refunds only the cost of standard delivery.
The refund goes back to the same means of payment as the purchase (card, transfer, etc.), unless the customer agrees otherwise; a refund forced into a voucher is unlawful. France backs a late refund with an automatic uplift of the sums due (article L.242-4); other member states enforce the same deadline in their own way.
Key takeaways
- Full refund (product + standard delivery) within 14 days (Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 13).
- Same means of payment as the purchase, unless the customer agrees otherwise.
- A forced voucher = unlawful.
- France's transposition: art. L.221-24 (late-refund uplift under L.242-4).
Going further
This page is an educational synthesis and does not constitute legal advice. The law that applies is that of the consumer's own country (Rome I Regulation). The reference texts carry authority: the EU directive on EUR-Lex and France's transposition on Legifrance.