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Google recently introduced a feature where you now have two hours to decide if you want a refund. Monument Valley/Google Play
TechKnowHow

How to get a refund for that app you bought

Because there are moments where you might want your money back.

YOU MAY KNOW the feeling, you come across an app, you like the sound of it, but it costs a few euro to download. You pay for it, but you find it’s not what it said it was, or it turns out to be incredibly buggy.

If there is ever a case where something has been purchased, and you feel you have valid reason to ask for a refund, there are a number of steps you can take to sort this.

It should be mentioned that under all circumstances, someone will be deciding whether you’re entitled to a refund or not, so make sure your reason is justified.

iPhone/iPad

To get a refund from Apple, you must go into your purchase history which can be accessed here. Once you sign into your Apple account, you will be presented with a list of all your downloads and purchases within the last 90 days.

To request a refund, click ‘Report a Problem’ and cite the reason why. If the reason isn’t there, then you will need to describe the problem underneath. If your reason is valid, you will receive a refund within 48 hours.

iOS refund Apple Apple

Android

There’s a return period of two hours for every purchase made now, but you can only do this once for each app. If you pay and download it again, then you can’t request a refund.

Screenshot_2014-09-12-18-27-20 Monument Valley / Google Play Monument Valley / Google Play / Google Play

However, if you miss the two-hour window, you will have to sign in to Google Play and go into My Orders (found by clicking on the cog located on the right-hand side).

Once you do that, scroll over the app or download in question and click on the three dots that emerge. Select ‘Report a Problem’ and select ‘I’d like to request a refund’.

Google Play Google Play Google Play

Windows Phone

To the credit of Windows Phone, you can download a trial version of almost every app in the store before you decide to part your cash with. This is probably the first thing you should do (if you’re not availing of it already) before you properly invest in an app.

If you do buy an app, but it turns out that its faulty, then you would either have to contact Microsoft store directly or the developers themselves. You will need to make sure it was purchased within the last 30 days to qualify.

Probably the best way to get in touch with Microsoft is to go through live chat and discuss it there. It’s rare that you have to wait long and it’s probably the most direct route. Just make sure you have all details about the purchase on hand before you go down this route.

Read: Ireland ditches texting for web messaging as phones continue to outnumber people >

Read: The US threatened Yahoo with a $250,000-a-day fine for not giving data to PRISM >

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