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Online Purchase Gone Wrong? Here’s How Legal Access Can Make a Difference

January 2025

Online shopping makes our lives easier in many ways. You can purchase products from the comfort of your own home, receive them on your front step in a few days, and even make returns without having to leave your house. But along with this simplicity come some big inconveniences. Online shopping problems can arise when you least expect them, turning your spending spree into a huge headache in the blink of an eye.

Problems with online shopping include return policy disputes, hot debates about items broken on delivery, goods paid for but not delivered, and other hassles. Understanding your consumer rights is a big step toward knowing how to navigate online shopping issues. You also want to have prompt legal help on your side, in case a consumer rights problem turns into a legal battle!

Read on to find out how legal access can help make a big difference as you make your important online purchases.

Common online shopping problems that consumers like you face

If you haven’t run into online shopping issues yet, count yourself lucky! Here are just a few of the problematic pop-ups that could put a damper on your shopping:

· Unauthorized charges on your credit or debit cards

· Payment mishaps like duplicate charges to your card

· Delivery issues, such as delayed, missing, or stolen packages

· Damaged or incorrect items

· Unhelpful customer support

· Difficulty in obtaining a refund

Clearly, these issues will cause massive annoyance as you try to resolve them. But they can also pack a heavy punch on your finances if you can’t get the results that you deserve. And if you get into a legal dispute with a seller, this could result in you losing time and money to court dates and hefty lawyer fees.

Know your consumer rights before when making online purchases

It’s essential for you to understand your consumer rights as you conduct your online shopping. Before you order a product, make sure you read the return policies from the individual business that is selling the product. Consider how frequently you might tap to purchase an item online without first knowing your exact rights regarding buying and/or returning that item. Sadly, this is common for the majority of consumers, as they commit to buying a product without a clear understanding of their rights, protections, and responsibilities.

Ask your LegalShield provider lawyer to explain your consumer rights to you so that you can navigate returns, refunds, and other common consumer issues with confidence.

Real stories: How legal involvement made a difference

It’s encouraging to know that some companies that try to be sneaky are punished by law. For example: A website recently misrepresented that the ratings and reviews it published came from customers who had used the product or service. In fact, the reviews did not come from experienced customers, but they still illicitly drove up the average ratings and review counts. The Federal Trade Commission charged the website and prohibited them from making these misrepresentations again.

Proactive ways to avoid online shopping problems

While you may not be able to avoid every pitfall of online shopping, you can still take some easy steps to protect yourself.

· Only shop on secure, trusted websites that clearly state their return policies.

· Read reviews carefully for the products that you are considering buying.

· Update the security settings on your devices to help prevent unwanted software or site cookies from invading your privacy.

· Don’t click on links in emails or texts from unknown senders, or that promise deals that seem too good to be true.

What to do when proactive measures fail

Despite having all these handy protections in place, you could still run into trouble with an online shopping issue. This is when you need legal help on hand. A letter from a law firm could put a stop to legal disputes before they even really begin. Your LegalShield provider law firm is ready to assist in any way they can if the dispute turns into a legal battle.

LegalShield provides the help that you need at a low monthly price that you can afford. When you become a LegalShield Member, you gain access to a provider law firm in your area that is ready to assist. You can have your LegalShield lawyer review paperwork, make phone calls, draft letters, and schedule consultations to answer your legal questions. Your consumer rights are important, and your LegalShield law firm is here to help protect you.

Take the next step

Reach out to an independent associate for more information or to become a member today!

Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (“PPLSI”) provides access to legal services offered by a network of provider law firms to PPLSI members through membership-based participation. Neither PPLSI nor its officers, employees or sales associates directly or indirectly provide legal services, representation, or advice. The information made available in this blog is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide legal advice, render an opinion, or provide a recommendation as to a specific matter. The blog post is not a substitute for competent legal counsel from a licensed professional lawyer in the state or province where your legal issues exist, and you should seek legal counsel for your specific legal matter. Information contained in the blog may be provided by authors who could be a third-party paid contributor. All information by authors is accepted in good faith, however, PPLSI makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of such information.