Can a company refuse a refund of a digital product, even if it has been less than 30 days since the costumer purchased the product?

Question

Three weeks ago signed up for an online course. I agreed to pay the price of the course in ten single monthy installements, but now I have come to the conclusion that the course is not something that I want to have anymore and I would like a refund.

They refused to give me the refund, claiming that they don't give out refunds if it has been more than 48 hours after purchase, or if the the payment plan agreed to was the 10 installement monthly plan, claiming that I can't back out of the debt I agreed to. Aren't they obligated by international laws to give refund or cancel the payments, by the request of the consumer, in the 30 day window after the digital product has been purchased?

Is this something worth filing a complaint for, or is there no way I can get the refund?

The company is U.S. based, and I'm in a european Union country.

Answer 1

[Just seen the edit - EU laws are likely to be similar to UK, and there is likely to be the equivalent of a Citizens Advice Bureau.]

You might be covered by local laws - depending on your jurisdiction.

But three weeks is a long time to change your mind. The UK, for example, gives two weeks for purchases you've not seen in person.

Generally, though, you're entitled to a refund for goods or services that were defective or misrepresented. Changing your mind after entering a contract does not - of itself - constitute a reason to consider the contract void.

Again, it's dependent on jurisdiction, but if the law defines it as "from date of receipt of the product or service", this might give an angle you can use. If you have the equivalent of a Citizens' Advice Bureau, it might be worth asking for an opinion.

Answer 2

There are practical considerations: If you are in the EU and they are in the USA, then they may have a hard time getting their hands on your money. Whether you want to go down that route, that's up to you.

They can take you to a US court and get an order that you have to pay, and you might take them to a EU court and that court says you owe nothing. That makes for an interesting situation.

There are no international laws concerned with this. And certainly not within 30 days of purchase. In the UK, for purchasing downloadable movies or videos, it's 7 days where you can get a refund, but not after downloading. This may or may not be EU law.