Legal Question in Consumer Law in Maryland

Buying online and not recieving my product or refund

About 14 months back I sent a money order for a product from an online book store. After finding out from an email they sent me, that the product was no longer available they offered me to chose another. From that point I had trouble emailing them from that email address. I than started to use a different email address and told them the book(s) I would want instead. Once again no response, I than used another email address and demanded I get a refund for my order.

Much Later that year in December I received a cheque to the same amount I sent. To begin with I sent a 'money order' which does not cost any dollar amount to cash in but a cheque does and the fee was excessive. So I than email them once again requesting that I get the full amount sent via money order. After that I've heard nothing since, I've even sent numerous emails to them and have had no success. Now I know its within my rights to reclaim that money but how do I go about doing that?


Asked on 9/23/04, 9:04 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Suzana Giorgio Pragma Legal, Lawyers

Re: Buying online and not recieving my product or refund

It is correct that you have the right to a refund of the full amount you have paid for a product which has not been delivered and, in this case, it seems that you did receive the full amount back, even though it is in a cheque form, as opposed to a money order. The online company did not keep any of your money.

From the information in your question, I am assuming that the online business from which you ordered the product is not based in Australia. In light of the deceitful activities of some companies selling products over the internet (most of which are based overseas), you should consider yourself lucky that you were, in fact, dealing with a legitimate operator who returned your money. You could have lost a lot more then just, I assume, the couple of dollars in fees for cashing the cheque.

If you are still keen, as a matter of principle, on recovering the fees for cashing the cheque, how you go about it will depend on where the online company is based. I suggest you see a solicitor who will obtain the full facts from you, and can advise you appropriately.

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Answered on 9/23/04, 5:12 pm


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