Paying in the UK · Refunds
Refunds and cancellations
Store refund policies are often more generous than the law, but in-game currency is the exception almost everywhere. Here is what each store allows, in plain terms, and what UK law adds on top.
Last checked 24 September 2026
Store by store
| Store | Games | In-game items and currency | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Within 14 days and under 2 hours played, for any reason | Valve games within 48 hours if unused; other games only if the developer opts in | Steam Support |
| PlayStation Store | Within 14 days if the download or streaming hasn't started | Not once delivered, unless faulty. Wallet top-ups can't be cancelled | Order history on the web or console |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Usually within 14 days with little playtime; decided case by case | Most currency and consumables not refundable once bought or used | Xbox Support |
| Epic Games Store | Within 14 days and under 2 hours, where marked refundable | Usually not refundable. Fortnite has cancel and return tickets for items | Transactions page of your account |
| GOG | Within 30 days, even after downloading and playing | GOG Wallet top-ups generally not refundable | GOG Support |
| Riot Games | Not applicable: League of Legends is free | Unspent RP within 14 days; three refund tokens per account for content bought in the last 90 days | Riot Support |
| Apple App Store | 14 days to cancel a purchase, unless you asked for delivery to start and accepted losing that right | reportaproblem.apple.com | |
| Google Play | Refunds for faulty or misdescribed items; others at Google's discretion. For in-app items, the developer is often quickest | Google Play order history | |
Why in-game currency is different
Nearly every store treats in-game currency and items as delivered the moment they land in your account. Once delivered and especially once used, a refund is unlikely unless the item is faulty. If a purchase was accidental, act immediately and don't spend the currency, because unspent currency is sometimes refundable within a short window, as with Riot's 14 days for unspent RP.
Games from HoYoverse bought on phones or consoles follow the rules of Apple, Google, PlayStation or Xbox. HoYoverse doesn't publish a separate UK refund page for purchases made directly on PC.
What UK law adds
- 14 days to cancel, until you start. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give you 14 days to cancel an online purchase. For downloads and in-game items that right ends when delivery starts, but only if you agreed to immediate delivery and acknowledged losing the right. That is the checkbox at checkout.
- Content that works. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, paid digital content must match its description and work properly. If it doesn't, you can ask for a repair or replacement, then a price reduction up to a full refund.
- Subscriptions. PlayStation lets you cancel a new subscription within 14 days, with a possible deduction for time used. New UK subscription rules, due in January 2027, will add renewal reminders and easier cancellation.
How to ask, step by step
- Find the purchase in the store's order or transaction history and note the date and reference.
- Stop playing the game or using the item, so the playtime or use doesn't count against you.
- Use the store's own refund form and explain plainly what happened, for example that a child bought it without permission.
- If the store refuses and you believe the content was faulty or misdescribed, quote the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in a written complaint.
- Only then consider your card provider's dispute process. A chargeback can lead a platform to restrict your account.
Read more about card protection and chargebacks, and prevent the next accident with spending controls.
Sources: refund policies of Steam, PlayStation Store UK, Xbox Support, Epic Games, GOG, Riot Games, Apple and Google Play, and legislation.gov.uk, checked 24 September 2026.