Because meeting people costs money now.
Dating sites and apps run on subscriptions, automatic renewal,
credits bought by the unit and add-ons pushed at sign-up. Knowing what happens when you buy online —
the cooling-off period, cancelling a subscription that renewed itself, a refund refused, a payment
disputed — is therefore part of dating itself. Add to that what couples buy together: the gift, the
trip, the wedding list, the furniture ordered for a shared home.
A cooling-off right is not universal
In one group of countries distance contracts carry a statutory cooling-off right — typically two weeks,
no reason required. In another there is no such right at all: returns are a matter of the trader's own policy and binding
only if promised. In between sit systems that apply it to particular contracts only. Check this
before ordering, not afterwards.
Cooling off and guarantees are two different things
A cooling-off right covers goods that are perfectly fine but that you no longer want: short deadline, no
reason, return postage usually at your expense. A guarantee or conformity right covers goods that are
defective: much longer periods, a right to repair, replacement or refund, and costs borne by the seller. Choosing the wrong
route loses rights you actually had.
How you paid is your strongest lever
For a purchase outside your customs area, the displayed price is not the price you pay.
When a trader fails to deliver or refuses to refund, a chargeback through the card scheme is often
faster and more effective than any legal claim. It runs on its own short deadlines set by the payment provider. Bank
transfers carry no equivalent protection, which is the single best reason not to pay in advance to a trader you do not
know.
Where the trader is established decides a lot
Buying outside your own legal area usually means different rules and much harder enforcement. Add customs duties
and import taxes, which can change the price substantially, and return shipping that sometimes exceeds the value
of the goods. Marketplaces are not automatically liable for the sellers trading on them, whatever the checkout page
implies.
Try dispute resolution before court
Where alternative dispute resolution schemes exist, they are free or very cheap and much faster than litigation. They
generally require you to have asked the trader to put things right in writing, with a deadline. That one
dated email is the entry ticket to everything that follows.
The law country by country
The legal framework, the procedure, the time limits and the costs differ from one country to another. Each country below has a detailed page: governing texts, key facts, the actual procedure, costs, where to go and the traps to avoid.
Garanties — European Commission, 2026 (in French): minimum 2-year legal guarantee owed by the seller, repair or replacement then refund, separate from commercial guarantees, digital content included
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges — consumer.ftc.gov, 2022: US example: disputing an undelivered purchase with the card issuer within 60 days of the first statement
Shopping and paying safely online — UK Government (GOV.UK), 2024: deals too good to be true, check reviews, credit cards offer more protection, never pay by direct bank transfer
TVA – Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée — European Commission, 2026 (in French): for an online purchase from outside the EU, VAT, customs and excise duties are always due
Règlement des litiges de consommation — European Commission, 2026 (in French): first the trader, then out-of-court resolution or a European Consumer Centre, then court action (small claims)
Official or institutional documents this page relies on, consulted on 12 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
Content updated in . The instruments cited can change: if in doubt, confirm with the official source given.
Text written with the help of AI, under the editorial responsibility of CAPIT; human reviews are occasional (method and sources: About). This content does not replace medical or legal advice. Spotted an error? Write to us.
