Webshop gone bankrupt? Here is how to get your money back
If the webshop is bankrupt, register as a creditor with the curator. If you paid by credit card and your order never arrived, you can ask your bank for the money back. Warranty is hard to claim from a bankrupt shop, but the manufacturer can often still help.
First: who is the curator?
When a webshop goes bankrupt, someone is appointed to wind up the company. This is called the curator. They keep track of who is owed what. This is the person you register with.
Your order did not arrive and you paid in advance
Then you are a creditor. You register with the curator and show how much you paid.
- Find the curator’s name. It is often in the bankruptcy notice.
- Send a short email: your name, your order number, the amount and the date.
- Add your order confirmation and proof of payment.
You do not always get everything back. What is left depends on the company.
Paid by credit card? Then there is an extra option
With a credit card you can ask for a chargeback. This is a refund through your credit card company. It works like this:
- First try to solve it with the shop. Keep your emails.
- If that does not work, ask your credit card company for the money back.
- This is for orders that were not delivered. Problems after delivery are not covered, for example a broken product.
The process can take 5 to 6 months. So start quickly.
Warranty and broken products
- The product breaks: you have the right to a free repair or replacement. But your seller, the webshop, no longer exists.
- Manufacturer’s warranty: report it to the manufacturer or importer.
- Manufacturer also bankrupt? Then the seller stays responsible. If that does not work, you can get part of your money back.
The tricky part
The chance of getting money back from a bankrupt shop is small. So it matters to have proof now. Take a photo of your order confirmation and proof of payment, and keep your emails.
Please note: this is general information, not legal advice. If you are unsure, ask the curator or a legal aid helpline.
You wait for your order. Nothing comes. You do not know who to contact and you did not keep the receipt. By the time you look into it, the shop is already closed.
Often asked
My webshop is bankrupt. What about my order?
If your order has not been delivered, register as a creditor with the curator. The curator is the person who winds up the bankrupt shop. Keep your order confirmation and proof of payment, because you will need them.
How do I get my money back from a bankrupt webshop?
Register your claim with the curator. Whether you get money back depends on what is left. Often it is only a small part. Did you pay by credit card? Then you can ask your bank for the money back (see the question about chargebacks).
Can I ask my credit card company for the money back?
Yes, with a chargeback, a refund through your credit card company. This only works if the order was not delivered, and you first tried to solve it with the shop. So keep all your emails. It can take 5 to 6 months. A normal debit card does not have this option.
Can I get money back if I paid with iDEAL?
iDEAL is changing into Wero. iDEAL has no chargeback like a credit card. With Wero, first contact the webshop. If that does not work, you can report a problem in the Wero app on your payment. What Wero does in case of bankruptcy is not clear yet. You should also register as a creditor with the curator.
Can I still return items if the shop is bankrupt?
In practice this is difficult. If you have not received your order, there is nothing to send back. If you already have it, contact the curator and ask what you can do. Sending something back without a reply is a risk.
What is the warranty worth from a bankrupt webshop?
By law you have the right to a product that works, even if the shop is bankrupt. But with a bankrupt shop the chance of a solution is small, because the shop no longer exists. If the product has a manufacturer's warranty, you can often report it to the manufacturer or importer. If the manufacturer goes bankrupt, the seller stays responsible. If that does not work, you often have the right to part of your money back.
What do I do with a gift card from a bankrupt webshop?
The chance of getting something back is small. Register your balance as a creditor with the curator. Keep your gift card safe.