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How To

How to Get a Refund

Contributor
By Stephen Schneider
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)
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Instructions

    Mail a Complaint Letter

  1. Suppose you did everything listed in Section 1, but you still don't want the thing you bought, and want to get your money back. Most of the time, all you have to do is call or visit the store and return the merchandise.

    If you get turned away, you have a couple of options. If the refund is worth less than $3, just let it go, and never go back to that store. It's not worth the headache, no matter the moral victory, and your loss of patronage will cost the store more than anything else. But if you really got hosed, and are ready to put some work into getting your hard-earned money back, then proceed. (Important: When you speak to someone, make sure to get her full name and write it down.)

    Write a complaint letter. If the company refuses to return your money, ask for an address where you can send them a written complaint. Then dust off your keyboard and sit down to write your initial complaint letter. Address this letter to the company, and make sure it contains all of the following information:

    *the name and model number (if any) of the product or service you purchased
    *the date and store location where you made the purchase (if you can remember the salesperson's name, include that, too)
    *the purchase price of the item and the amount of the refund you are requesting
    *an explanation of why you want/deserve a refund
    *a detailed account of your first attempt to obtain a refund (make sure to include the name of the person you spoke to, and the reason they gave for not returning your money)
    *a copy of the receipt for the product (don't send the original; keep that for your files)

    This letter is going to make them sit up and take notice, because you are going to cc (carbon copy) it to the Better Business Bureau, your state Attorney General's office and a local legislator. That'll show them you mean business.

    Write the name of the person or agency next to the abbreviation "cc" at the bottom of your letter; then send a copy of the letter to that person. You don't change the address at the top of the letter, nor the opening salutation, when you cc it to someone. Just put "cc" on the bottom next to the names of the other two folks you're mailing it to and mail an exact copy to each appropriate address.

    Send the initial complaint letter to the company and send a copy to the three offices above, along with a cover letter asking for their help. Don't forget to include your full name, address and telephone number on the cover letter.

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