FTC: Fashion Nova failed to deliver the goods

In normal times, there’s nothing like finding the perfect outfit for a special event. But if you’re like some Fashion Nova customers, excitement turned to disappointment when your merchandise shipped late with no option to cancel, or you got a store credit instead of the items you ordered.

By law, sellers have to notify customers about shipping delays and offer them the right to cancel with a full refund. Sellers also must give refunds when they don’t ship merchandise – not just a gift card or store credit.

In a $9.3 million settlement announced today, the FTC alleges Fashion Nova failed to properly notify customers and give them the chance to cancel their orders when the company failed to ship merchandise in a timely manner. The FTC says the company also illegally used gift cards to compensate consumers for unshipped merchandise instead of issuing refunds. The $9.3 million will be used to compensate people who were harmed by getting gift cards from Fashion Nova instead of their money back.

If you’re shopping online, here are a few things to consider:

• Use search engines. If you think you’ve found a good deal, but aren’t familiar with the product or the company selling it, dig a little deeper. Type the name of the company or product into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” If you find bad reviews, you’ll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk.
• Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied? If you return it, who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees, and when you will get your order?
• Pay by credit card. Your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. The law lets you dispute charges under certain situations, and temporarily withhold payment while your credit card company investigates them.

If you have problems with a purchase, try to work them out directly with the seller. If that doesn’t work, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Where this page came from

This page was imported from Federal Trade Commission. Published by the Federal Trade Commission and, as a work of the United States government, in the public domain; material credited to others is left out.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.