Apple Now Offers 14-day Returns for App Store and iTunes Purchases in Europe

The EU's new Consumer Rights Directive has forced Apple to offer a 14-day money back guarantee on App Store and iTunes purchases in Europe

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2014 file photo, the Apple logo hangs in the glass box entrance to the company's Fifth Avenue store, in New York. Apple, already the world's most valuable company, surpassed $700 billion in market capitalization Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2014, as its stock hit another all-time high. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The EU’s new Consumer Rights Directive has forced Apple to offer a 14-day money back guarantee on App Store and iTunes purchases in Europe, ending its long-held no refunds policy.

Apple ends its long-held no refunds policy

The Consumer Rights Directive requires businesses to have a fair two-week return policy for goods and services, otherwise a default one-year refund policy will be applied. It said “if a consumer is not clearly informed ... the withdrawal period automatically is extended to one year.”

The directive, which took effect in June, also bans pre-checked boxes on websites, extra charges for payments with credit cards, and hidden charges on websites and promotions.

In response, Apple has changed its refund policy to read, “Right of cancellation: If you choose to cancel your order, you may do so within 14 days from when you received your receipt without giving any reason, except iTunes Gifts which cannot be refunded once you have redeemed the code.”

Republished with permission from Neowin. Read full article.