Guides · New York
Consumer rights: guides, questions and what to do now
New York's General Business Law bans deceptive practices and false advertising, requires stores to post refund policies, and controls automatic renewals; federal rules add cooling-off periods and warranty rights.
Refunds, cancellations, defective products, subscriptions and auto-renewal, deceptive practices, home improvement, used cars.
Common situations
What the situation means, what usually decides it, and the ways to respond.
- SituationBought something defective in New York? Your warranty rights and how to use themWhen you buy goods from a business in New York, the Uniform Commercial Code gives you warranty rights. Anything the seller promised or described…
- SituationProblems with a home improvement contractor in New York: contracts, deposits and your 3-day right to cancelIn New York, a home improvement contract worth more than $500 must be in writing and signed by both you and the contractor (General Business Law §…
- SituationOnline order never arrived? Shipping deadlines, refunds and disputing the chargeUnder the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Rule, a seller must ship within the time it advertised or, if it gave no time, within 30 days. If…
How to do it
Step-by-step processes: forms, deadlines, fees and where to go.
Questions people ask
A short, straight answer to one question, with the source.
The official sources on this topic
Every page here rests on statutes, regulations and government sites. These are the ones that come up most on this topic:
- N.Y. General Business Law(opens in a new tab)
- File a complaint: Consumer issues — NY Attorney General(opens in a new tab)
- Small Claims — New York State Unified Court System(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Executive Law § 63 (Attorney General)(opens in a new tab)
- Division of Consumer Protection — NY Department of State(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Uniform Commercial Code(opens in a new tab)
Next step
The guides explain the rules. When you need an answer about your own situation, describe what happened and get a free first answer; the full check confirms every legal point against its source.
Ask about your situation — freeYour rights: Consumer rightsGuided path