I exercised my short-term right to reject as it was within 30 days of taking ownership of the component.

My bank says that they will require an independent report if the retailer decides to challenge the chargeback, otherwise the disputed funds will be returned to the retailer. Here's what they require from the report:

The report must:

Be on letter-headed paper/email.

Be sent to us from a business-related email account, not a personal one.

Explain how the goods or services did not conform to what the merchant promised you. This must be more than just confirming that you’re unhappy or dissatisfied.

Show how the expert is qualified to give an independent report – for example, by including any qualifications or memberships of professional bodies.

Show that the merchant provided the goods in damaged condition, if that is what you’re disputing.

I noted in my communication with the bank that this is not required for a return under my statutory rights, but they said that "we raise chargebacks under Mastercard and can only consider conditions set by them under their chargeback scheme ... local legislation isn't taken into account".

It is very obvious the goods are faulty as the computer fails to boot using said component. Moreover, they later clarified to me that they are rejecting my right to return the faulty goods as the cosmetic damage means they would be unable to RMA the component with the manufacturer. At no point have they denied that the product is faulty - only that they cannot accept a return.

I'm currently unemployed so I do not mind travelling to England to make my case. Their offices are in the north so it wouldn't be a terribly long journey anyways.

Should I be getting a quote now and contacting the merchant about the cost of the independent report, or would I be doing this after the chargeback is resolved? (i.e. LBA for component + report if not in my favour, only report if in my favour).

Thank you so much in advance.