Your rights · New York
Consumer rights
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.
Your rights
What you're entitled to, who qualifies, how much and by when — each right with the section of law behind it.
- Store refund policies in New York: what a store must post, and when you can get your money backNew York doesn't force stores to take back items you simply changed your mind about. What General Business Law § 218-a does require is that every…
- Cancelling a gym membership in New York: your rights under the Health Club Services ActUnder New York's Health Club Services Act (General Business Law §§ 620–631), you can cancel any gym or fitness club contract within three business…
- Automatic renewals and subscriptions in New York: consent, reminders and easy cancellationNew York's automatic renewal law (General Business Law §§ 527 and 527-a) says a business can't charge you for a subscription that renews…
- Door-to-door sales in New York: your 3-day right to cancel and get your money backIf a salesperson sold you goods or services at your home or anywhere other than the seller's regular place of business, New York's Door-to-Door Sales…
- Gift cards in New York: expiration dates, fees and cashing out a small balanceNew York's gift card law (General Business Law § 396-i) protects most gift cards and gift certificates, paper or electronic. The money on a card…
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)
- Division of Consumer Protection — NY Department of State(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Uniform Commercial Code(opens in a new tab)
- N.Y. Personal Property Law(opens in a new tab)
When you need an answer about your own situation
These pages explain the general rules. A first answer about your own situation is free; the full check confirms every legal point against the statute it cites, and a letter is written only on top of it.