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Simple English definitions for legal terms
mail or telephone order rule
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A quick definition of mail or telephone order rule:
The mail or telephone order rule is a law that says a seller can't ask people to buy things by mail or phone unless they can send the items within 30 days or by the date they promised. If the seller can't send the items on time, they have to ask the buyer if it's okay to wait longer. If the buyer says no, the seller has to give the money back. This rule also applies to buying things on the internet.
A more thorough explanation:
The Mail or Telephone Order Rule is a legal regulation established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that prohibits sellers from soliciting sales orders by mail or telephone unless they reasonably expect to ship the ordered merchandise by the date included on the solicitation or within 30 days if there is no such date.
For instance, if a company sends a catalog to a customer and the catalog includes a product that the customer wants to purchase, the company cannot accept the order unless it can reasonably expect to ship the product within the specified time frame.
The rule also requires sellers to notify buyers of any shipment delays beyond the stipulated period and obtain their consent for the delay. If the buyer does not consent, the seller must issue a prompt refund to the buyer.
For example, if a customer orders a product and the seller cannot ship it within the specified time frame, the seller must inform the customer of the delay and obtain their consent. If the customer does not agree to the delay, the seller must issue a refund promptly.
In 2014, the FTC expanded the scope of the Mail or Telephone Order Rule to include internet orders and transactions. This means that the same regulations apply to online purchases as well.