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Consumer rights · Business law · Fraud · Brands

The law of buying and selling online, made clear.

Free, plain-English guides to your rights as an online shopper and your duties as an online business: refunds and returns, chargebacks, scams, trademarks, affiliate rules and customer complaints. For the US, UK and EU, with the official sources linked.

Covering USUKEU rules, side by side

Refunds & returns Card disputes Report a scam Trademarks Affiliate rules

Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

Plain-English law no jargon
US, UK & EU side by side
Official sources linked on every guide
Free to use no sign-up

Why people use OnBusLaw

Built from the law, not opinion

Every guide is written from legislation, regulator guidance and official websites, which we link to, and dated so you can see when it was last checked.

US, UK and EU, side by side

Online shopping crosses borders. We set out the rules in each place together, so you can see which ones apply to you.

Free and independent

OnBusLaw is free to use. We’re not a law firm and don’t sell legal services; when you need advice, we point you to qualified, often free, help.

What do you need help with?

Start with your problem. Each guide explains your rights, the deadlines that matter and where to go next.

Your consumer rights →

Person holding a cardboard parcel box on a table

Shoppers

Refunds & returns

Cancel an order, return it and get your money back.

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Act fast

Scams & fraud

Warning signs, first steps if you’ve paid a scammer, where to report and how to get money back.

Payment card resting on a dark laptop keyboard

Payments

Card disputes

Chargebacks, UK Section 75, the US Fair Credit Billing Act and unauthorised payments, with the deadlines.

Person writing and signing a paper document

Brands

Trademarks

What a trademark protects, searching first, filing in the US, UK and EU, and ™ vs ®.

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Creators

Affiliate rules

Disclosing affiliate links, sponsored posts and gifts, and the fake review bans, in the US, UK and EU.

Headset resting next to a laptop computer

Customer service

Complaints

Write a complaint that works, then escalate to your card provider, ADR, regulators or small claims.

Golden padlock resting on a computer keyboard

Recovery

Identity theft

What to do in the first 24 hours, credit freezes and fraud alerts, and where to report.

Woman checking a parcel with her phone next to a laptop and boxes

Sellers

Marketplace sellers

Suspensions, seller verification, IP complaints, product safety and platform rules for sellers.

Stacks of paper documents and file folders in an office

Start-ups

Online business

Structure, registration, legal pages, data protection, sales tax and VAT for a new online business.

Key rules at a glance

Some of the most useful rules for buying and selling online. Each one links to a full guide with the conditions and exceptions.

All consumer rights →

UK & EU

14-day cancellation

Most goods and services bought online from a business can be cancelled within 14 days without giving a reason. Some exceptions apply.

Cancellation rights →UK

Section 75 protection

Paid for something costing over £100 and up to £30,000 with a credit card? The card provider can be equally liable if the trader breaches the contract.

How Section 75 works →US

60 days to dispute

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, write to your card issuer within 60 days of the statement that shows a billing error.

Disputing a charge →UK & EU

Faulty goods

Goods must match their description and be of satisfactory quality. In the UK, you can reject faulty goods for a full refund within 30 days.

Faulty goods rights →UK

Scam reimbursement

Since 7 October 2024, UK payment firms must reimburse most victims of bank transfer (APP) scams, up to £85,000 per claim.

Getting money back →EU

Withdrawal button

Since 19 June 2026, EU online traders must offer a clearly labelled “withdraw from contract” function during the cancellation period.

What changed →Brands

® means registered

Use ® only for a registered trademark. Claiming registration falsely is a criminal offence in the UK and can be misleading elsewhere.

™ vs ® →Creators

Label ads upfront

Paid posts, gifts and affiliate links must be clearly disclosed, for example with “#ad”, under FTC, UK and EU rules.

Disclosure rules →

Sorting out a problem with an online purchase

Know your rights
Find the rule that fits: cancellation, faulty goods, non-delivery or a card dispute. Note any deadlines.
Put it in writing
Contact the seller, explain what went wrong, say what you want and give a reasonable deadline. Keep copies.
Escalate if needed
Use your card provider, an ADR scheme or ombudsman, a regulator or small claims court. See how to escalate.

Online law in plain English

Buying, selling and creating online is governed by a patchwork of consumer law, payment rules, data protection, advertising codes and intellectual property law. OnBusLaw turns that patchwork into practical guides: what the rule is, who it protects, the deadlines that matter and where to go next.

Every page covers the United States (mainly federal law, with state differences flagged), the United Kingdom and the European Union, because the answer to “can I get my money back?” or “do I need to disclose this link?” often depends on where you, and the business, are.

For online shoppers

Your consumer rights online: faulty goods, late deliveries and what sellers must tell you.
Refunds and returns: the 14-day UK and EU cancellation right and US return policies.
Chargebacks and card disputes: Section 75, the Fair Credit Billing Act and unauthorised payments.
Scams and fraud and identity theft: warning signs, first steps and where to report.
Complaints and customer service: how to complain effectively and escalate.

For online businesses, sellers and creators

The legal checklist for an online business: structure, tax, data and consumer law.
Terms, privacy policies and cookies: the legal pages a website needs.
Trademarks and copyright and takedowns: protect your brand and content.
Affiliate and influencer disclosure rules, including fake review bans.
Selling on marketplaces: suspensions, seller verification and product safety.

How we write our guides

We start from primary sources such as legislation, regulations and regulator guidance, and link to them at the end of each guide. Pages show the date they were last updated, and time-sensitive changes are covered on our blog. Read our full editorial standards.

Our guides are general information, not legal advice. They can’t take account of your circumstances, and they don’t replace a qualified lawyer (an attorney or solicitor) or a free advice service where you live.

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is OnBusLaw a law firm?

No. OnBusLaw is a free legal information website. We don’t give legal advice or represent anyone, and reading our guides doesn’t create a lawyer–client relationship.

Which countries do your guides cover?

The United States (mainly federal law, with state differences flagged), the United Kingdom and the European Union. Where UK nations differ, for example Scotland, we say so. EU countries can add their own national rules on top of EU law.

How up to date is the information?

Each guide shows when it was last updated and links to the official sources it relies on. Laws change, so check those sources before acting on anything important.

How does OnBusLaw make money?

Some pages may include affiliate links, so a provider may pay us a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. This never changes what our guides say. Read how we make money.

The law of buying and selling online, made clear.