The 9 documents, compared
What each document is, what it proves and doesn't, the neutral next step, and the deadline or record to keep. Read against the seller's and card issuer's own policies.
| Document | What it is | What it proves / doesn't | What to do | Deadline / keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receiptproof of the transactionFTC_warranty | Proof of purchase | ProvesThe transaction itself: what you bought, when, where, the price paid, and the payment method. Doesn't proveAny right to a refund — that is governed by the seller's return policy, not by holding a receipt. |
Keep the original or a clear photo; most returns and warranty claims ask for it, though other proof is often accepted. | Keep through the return + warranty window |
| Proof of purchasebroader than a receiptFTC_warranty | More than one form | ProvesThat you bought the item — which can be a receipt, an order confirmation, a packing slip, or a card or bank statement. Doesn't proveThat a specific return is allowed, or the warranty start date in every case; the seller or warrantor sets what proof they accept. |
Check what the warranty or return policy accepts, and save the order confirmation and packaging, not just the till receipt. | Keep for the full warranty period |
| Manufacturer warrantyfree, from the makerFTC_warranty | Free, from the maker | ProvesThe manufacturer's written promise to repair, replace, or refund for covered defects — titled "full" or "limited" under federal warranty law. Doesn't proveCoverage for accidental damage, misuse, or wear; and a written warranty cannot strip your state implied warranty of merchantability. |
Read whether it's "full" or "limited" and what's excluded; claim within the warranty period with proof of purchase. | Claim within the warranty period |
| Extended warranty / protection plana paid service contractFTC_warranty | A paid service contract | ProvesA separate paid contract — often run by a third-party administrator, not the manufacturer — covering repair or replacement on its own terms. Doesn't proveThat its coverage matches the manufacturer's warranty; it is a distinct "service contract" under federal law and may overlap or exclude differently. |
Compare it against the free manufacturer warranty before relying on it; read the administrator, the term, and the exclusions. | Per the plan's term |
| Return authorization / RMAthe seller's permission to returnFTC_mailorder | Permission to return | ProvesThat the seller has approved a specific return and assigned it a reference or tracking number. Doesn't proveThat a refund has been issued or its amount; an RMA starts the return, it doesn't complete it. |
Get the RMA before shipping anything back, keep the number, and follow the stated packing and deadline rules. | Use within the RMA's stated window |
| Return shipping labellogistics, not proofFTC_mailorder | Logistics, not proof | ProvesHow to send the item back and, if prepaid by the seller, that the seller is covering return postage. Doesn't proveThat the return was accepted or refunded; it only moves the package, and tracking shows delivery, not approval. |
Keep the tracking number as proof of return; a prepaid label doesn't always mean a free return, since restocking fees can still apply per policy. | Ship within the return window |
| Repair recordyour evidence trailFTC_warranty | Your evidence trail | ProvesThat a repair was requested or performed — the dates, the problem, the work done, and who did it. Doesn't proveThat the manufacturer accepts the defect as covered or that a replacement is owed; it is documentation, not a determination. |
Keep every work order, invoice, and dated message; a consistent repair history supports warranty and, in some states, lemon-type claims. | Keep for the product's life |
| Refund denialnot the final wordFTC_billedFTC_ccdispute | Not the final word | ProvesThat the seller has declined a refund under its own return policy. Doesn't proveThat you have no options left — a denial under store policy doesn't extinguish separate rights for a defective or not-as-described item, or a credit-card dispute. |
Re-read the posted policy the denial relies on; if you paid by credit card, a billing-error dispute or chargeback may still apply within its deadline; complaints go to the FTC or your state attorney general. | Card-dispute clock may still run |
| Chargeback documentationcard-dispute evidenceFTC_ccdisputeFTC_billed | Card-dispute evidence | ProvesThe record you give your card issuer to reverse a charge — the transaction, what went wrong, and proof such as the order, delivery, and your messages. Doesn't proveA guaranteed reversal; the issuer and card network decide, and a chargeback is separate from the federal billing-error dispute. |
For a billing error, dispute in writing within 60 days of the first statement; quality and non-delivery issues run on card-network chargeback windows (often up to about 120 days). Keep copies of everything. | FCBA: 60 days, in writing |
Return vs. warranty vs. dispute — three different systems
A return is governed by the seller's own policy. There is no federal law requiring a store to refund buyer's remorse — but the seller must honor whatever return policy it posted at the time of sale.
A warranty claim runs on the manufacturer's or plan's terms under federal warranty law. A charge dispute runs on federal law — the Fair Credit Billing Act — plus your card network's separate chargeback rules. Mixing the three up is the most common reason people miss a deadline.
What federal law actually guarantees
Outside the seller's own policy, federal protection is narrower than most shoppers assume. It kicks in mainly here:
- Defective goods. Most states' implied warranty of merchantability gives you a remedy even if a store posts "no returns."
- Not as described. An item materially different from its listing can be a deceptive practice under the FTC Act, and a billing-error dispute if you paid by card.
- Door-to-door and similar sales. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives three business days to cancel sales of $25+ made at your home (or $130+ at temporary locations) — not ordinary store or online purchases.
- Late online shipments. Under the FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Rule, a seller who can't ship within the promised time (or 30 days if none was stated) must let you cancel for a refund.
Credit card vs. debit card disputes
The Fair Credit Billing Act protects credit-card purchases: dispute a billing error in writing within 60 days, and the issuer must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles (90 days at most), while you withhold payment on the disputed amount. Debit-card protections are different and generally weaker for non-delivery or a wrong item — one reason large or risky purchases are often put on a credit card.
Checklists
The neutral version — what to keep and verify, not how to argue a dispute.
Keep Documents to keep after any purchase
- The receipt or order confirmation — plus the packaging until the return window closes.
- The warranty document and whether it's "full" or "limited."
- Any RMA number and return tracking as proof you sent it back.
- Every repair work order and dated communication.
- Card statements showing the charge, in case you dispute it.
Dispute Before you dispute a charge
- Try the seller first — issuers expect it for quality and delivery issues.
- Check the clock — 60 days for an FCBA billing error, in writing.
- Match the type — billing error vs. quality dispute vs. chargeback.
- Gather proof — order, delivery or tracking, and your messages.
- Send to the billing-inquiries address — not the payment address.
Common wrong assumptions
- A receipt entitles me to a refund.It proves the purchase, not a right to return. Refunds depend on the seller's posted policy, which no federal law forces them to offer for buyer's remorse.
- I have three days to cancel any purchase.The FTC Cooling-Off Rule covers sales made at your home or temporary locations ($25 / $130+), not regular store or online purchases.
- An extended warranty is just a longer manufacturer warranty.It's a separate paid service contract, often run by a third party, with its own terms — not an extension of the maker's free warranty.
- A chargeback and a billing-error dispute are the same thing.A chargeback is the card network's process; the Fair Credit Billing Act is the federal right. They run on different deadlines — 60 days in writing for the FCBA.
- A "no returns" sign means I have no recourse on a broken item.Most states' implied warranty of merchantability still applies to defective goods regardless of a no-returns policy.
Sources
Every term and mechanism traces to a primary regulator. Rules change — the date is when each was last checked.
| Source | What it establishes | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| FTC — Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law | Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: written warranties must be titled "full" or "limited" (products over $10) with terms disclosed and available before sale (over $15); implied warranties can't be disclaimed; service contracts are treated separately. | 2026-06-10 |
| FTC — Cooling-Off Rule (sales at home or other locations) | Three business days to cancel sales of $25+ at the buyer's home or $130+ at temporary locations; does not cover ordinary store or online purchases. | 2026-06-10 |
| FTC — Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges | Under the Fair Credit Billing Act the issuer must acknowledge a dispute within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles (90 days max); unauthorized-use liability is capped at $50; payment can be withheld on the disputed amount during the investigation. | 2026-06-10 |
| FTC — What To Do if You're Billed for Things You Never Got | Credit-card billing errors must be disputed in writing within 60 days of the first statement containing the error; disputes about the quality of an item are not billing errors. | 2026-06-10 |
| FTC — Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule | Sellers must ship within the time promised, or within 30 days if none is stated; if they can't, they must get the buyer's consent to a delay or refund the unshipped merchandise. | 2026-06-10 |