Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

Credit Card refund for an online purchase

I ordered a magazine online. It was a ''one year risk free'' offer. It clearly states that within 1 year, I can cancel at any time and receive a refund.

I use this service occassionally because I'm disabled and I like to see if I like a particular magazine before I commit. I always get a prompt refund when I request it.

However, the company has refused my last refund. Here is their exact wording:

''We have cancelled your subscription as requested, however, we can not issue a

refund at this time as we are unable to verify that the credit card account you provided for this cancellation request is associated with the name and address we have on file for this subscription. For security and anti-fraud purposes, it is our policy to only issue refunds to the subscriber of record.''

No where in their Terms of Service do they claim the name and address must match up with the cc#. I use my daughter's cc# that allows me to create a ''temporary'' and safe cc# that I can use online and not worry about the real cc# getting stolen.

They charged my card with the name and address ''as is'' so can they really now say that they can't give me a refund for the reasons stated above?


Asked on 5/16/07, 8:44 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: Credit Card refund for an online purchase

Just tell them to refund the daughter's credit card. In the future, if you order online, many banks offer temporary credit card numbers (i.e. virtual numbers) that you can use just for that transaction to surf safely. You might want to use that.

In the meantime, a letter from an attorney might get their attention.

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Answered on 5/16/07, 8:48 pm
Jonathan Stein Law Offices of Jonathan G. Stein

Re: Credit Card refund for an online purchase

They can say it, and they may have an argument if you were not an authorized user on your daughter's credit card. Have your daughter ask for the refund, and if they won't give it, she may have to dispute it with her credit card company. However, in the future, you should only use a credit card with your name on it.

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Answered on 5/16/07, 10:38 pm


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