How to use the consumer refund and cooling-off calculator
The United States has no national, industry-by-industry refund table. This tool therefore does two separate things: it checks whether a federal cancellation right still applies to the way your sale was made, and it estimates the pro-rata value left on a prepaid contract after the fees written into it.
How it works - Cooling-off days are counted as business days, which under the FTC rule means every calendar day except Sunday and the listed federal holidays, so pick any holiday that falls inside the window. The refund estimate divides the price across the contract term and subtracts the cancellation fee and other non-refundable charges.
Legal basis - The three business day cancellation right is set by the FTC Cooling-Off Rule at 16 C.F.R. Part 429, warranties by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act at 15 U.S.C. §2301 and following, card disputes by the Fair Credit Billing Act at 15 U.S.C. §1666, and unfair or deceptive practices by FTC Act §5 together with state UDAP statutes. Information is current as of September 2026 and state rules differ.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is no federal schedule of refund percentages by industry. Refunds come from the seller policy and the contract, with a narrow federal cancellation right for certain off-premises sales and broader remedies under state law.
It covers sales of $25 or more made at your home, workplace or a temporary location, and $130 or more at temporary locations, under 16 C.F.R. Part 429. It does not cover most online, mail, phone or in-store purchases, and several categories such as real estate and vehicles are excluded.
A published policy is part of the deal. Failing to honor it can be an unfair or deceptive practice under FTC Act §5 and your state UDAP statute, and a card payment may also be disputed under the Fair Credit Billing Act.