What is the 30 day rule for shipping goods?

Asked by: Jeremy Gottlieb  |  Last update: November 8, 2023
Score: 5/5 (36 votes)

The Rule, issued in 1975, requires sellers who solicit buyers to order merchandise through the mail, via the Internet, or by phone to have a reasonable basis to expect that the sellers can ship within the advertised time frame, or, if no time frame is specified, within 30 days.

What is the 30 day rule for shipping?

The Rule requires that when you advertise merchandise, you must have a reasonable basis for stating or implying that you can ship within a certain time. If you make no shipment statement, you must have a reasonable basis for believing that you can ship within 30 days.

How do I complain about FTC shipping?

To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll‑free, 1‑877‑FTC‑HELP (1‑877‑382‑4357); TTY: 1‑866‑653‑4261.

Do you have to return unordered merchandise?

Your Rights When You Get Unordered Merchandise

By law, companies can't send unordered merchandise to you, then demand payment. That means you never have to pay for things you get but didn't order. You also don't need to return unordered merchandise. You're legally entitled to keep it as a free gift.

What does the FTC stand for?

About the FTC | Federal Trade Commission. The .gov means it's official.

Maximise your Capital Gains Tax allowance and avoid the Bed and Breakfasting 30-day rule

44 related questions found

What 4 requirements does the FTC require that advertisers adhere to?

Advertising and Marketing Basics

Under the law, claims in advertisements must be truthful, cannot be deceptive or unfair, and must be evidence-based. For some specialized products or services, additional rules may apply.

What are the examples of FTC violations?

These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more.

How long does a company have to ship your order?

If the business is unable to ship within the promised time or within 30 days, the merchant must promptly tell the customer by mail, telephone or email, and give a new shipping estimate and give the customer a chance to cancel their order and receive a full refund.

Is it legal to keep a package accidentally delivered to you?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules that allow you to keep merchandise that's wrongly delivered — even if you didn't pay for it. The logic is that sellers can't just send you goods and demand money for them. You aren't even legally obligated to tell the seller that they've messed up the delivery.

Can I keep a retailer that sent the wrong item?

What happens if a company sends you the wrong item? You have the legal right to keep it as a free gift, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Does filing a complaint with the FCC do anything?

Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Center

Your Story submission provides you with the opportunity to comment (good or bad) on telecommunications issues or providers. The FCC shares Your Story internally to identify trends and inform policy making and potential enforcement activities.

When should you contact FTC?

If you have been targeted by an illegal business practice or scam, report it.

Does filing a complaint with FTC help?

Complaints help the FTC and other law enforcement agencies bring scam artists to justice and put an end to unfair and misleading business practices. If you have a complaint, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What is the new shipping law?

Public Law No: 117-146 (06/16/2022) This act revises requirements governing ocean shipping to increase the authority of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to promote the growth and development of U.S. exports through an ocean transportation system that is competitive, efficient, and economical.

What is the law of shipping?

While it is a highly specialised field, shipping law is comprises of a broad range of disciplines relating to either the financing, construction, insurance, use of and ultimately decommissioning of vessels; or the transportation of goods and people by sea.

What is grace period in shipping?

Most ports allow importers to store shipments for three to five days before levying fines. The clock starts ticking the minute a container is taken off the vessel and is set on a pier in the shipping yard. Once the grace period ends, ports charge fees per container for every working day they sit there.

What happens if the delivery man steals your package?

Who is responsible if a package is stolen? The retailer is responsible for delivering a parcel safely to you. If it's stolen, you should contact them to arrange a refund or replacement. But if you told the courier to leave your parcel in a safe place, then you're responsible for it going missing or being stolen.

What happens if someone else's package is delivered to my address?

Is it illegal to keep someone else's packages? It's not illegal to keep a package that you didn't order. The Federal Trade Commission states that you don't need to pay or return a package that was accidentally sent to you.

Is it illegal to open a package that isn't yours?

The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time. It is remarkably easy to find yourself charged with this crime, even if you didn't mean to do anything wrong.

Can I get a refund for late shipping?

While different retail companies may have different specific refund policies, all companies should be willing to refund your shipping fees in the case of a late delivery. You'll likely need to request the refund through the company's Customer Service web page, or call the listed Customer Service phone number.

What to do if a company won't ship your order?

If the seller hasn't shipped the item within the timeframe they promised when you bought it, you can cancel the order. If you never got your order and the charge appears on your credit card statement, you can dispute it as a billing error. File a dispute online or by phone with your credit card company.

What to do if a company never sent your order?

If you didn't get your stuff: First, contact the seller. Most businesses will work with you to resolve the problem and keep you as a customer. If that doesn't work, you still didn't get your order and the charge shows up on your credit card statement, dispute the charge.

Can the FTC put you in jail?

The FTC is a civil law enforcement agency. That means that, while we can't put people in jail, many of our partners can and do, including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys, and other federal, state, and local criminal law enforcers.

What does FTC Act 5 prohibit?

Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) (15 USC 45) prohibits ''unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.''

What is Section 19 of the FTC Act?

FTC Act section 19

If the Commission satisfies the court that the act or practice to which the cease and desist order relates is one which a reasonable man would have known under the circumstances was dishonest or fraudulent, the court may grant relief under subsection (b).