How To Dispute A Transaction On Steam And Get A Full Refund
Developed by the Valve Corporation, Steam launched in 2003 as a client for Valve PC games to receive updates and patches. Developers took high interest in Steam, and in 2005, non-Valve games started to become available on the platform. Steam now has over 70,000 titles available and is the most common way for consumers to buy and play retail computer games.
But if you want to take back a game you just purchased, will Steam allow you to do that? Let us at aRefund.com teach you how you can successfully get your money back
Can You Get A Steam Refund?
Steam has a refund policy you can find on the company website. The company will allow refunds on most purchases on the Steam domain. Steam can either issue refunds towards your original payment purchase or will load the funds in your account’s Steam Wallet.
Consumers can get refunds for the following items for sale on Steam:
- Games and software
- Downloadable content
- In-game purchases
- Pre-purchased games
- Subscriptions
- Bundles
- Hardware, such as the Steam Deck
- Purchased Steam Wallet funds
- How Long Do I Have To Refund A Steam Game?
When it comes to game purchases, Steam allows customers 2 weeks to request a refund on their purchases. In addition, players are only allowed to play the game less than two hours to still be eligible for a refund. For example, if you’ve played Sea of Thieves for 1 hour and 51 minutes, you can still get a refund so long as you don’t play the game for 9 minutes longer.
Unfair Refund Policies? Get Help With aRefund.com
Rather than put up with companies that won’t do what’s right, turn to aRefund.com and get your money back pronto! We’ll get with your bank to review your refund request, and the bank decides if you deserve to get a chargeback.
Here’s how aRefund.com’s 4-step process works:
- You’ll tell us why you deserve a chargeback on our website.
- We’ll write you a professional letter outlining your problems with Steam.
- We’ll add a reason code to make the refund more likely to be accepted.
- The letter is sent to the bank and a bank teller has the last word on whether to give you a refund.
This is a very straightforward process in which doesn’t involve Steam whatsoever. The bank will reverse your transaction, and it will require 3 to 5 business days for your refund to make it to your account.
How To Ask For A Steam Refund
When you request a refund, you won ’t have to call a number or write an email. You can easily ask for a refund right from your Steam account.
Here’s how refunds are requested on the Steam website:
- Go to Steam’s website and log in to your account.
- Click on “Support” at the top of the page.
- Click on “Recent Products”, followed by “Purchases”.
- Click on the content you want refunded.
- Click on “View Receipt”.
- Click on “I would like a refund”.
- Click on “I’d like to request a refund”.
- Select your refund method.
- If necessary, enter your reason for a refund.
- Click on “Submit request.”
On the following page, you’ll see a confirmation message that states Steam will review your refund request. Steam customer service will email you at the address provided in terms of the next steps.
Can I Get A Refund For Games I Purchases More Than 14 Days Ago?
Steam will allow you to request a refund for any content you purchase on the platform, even if for longer than 14 days ago. Steam will review refunds like these at the company’s sole discretion. You’ll need to enter your reason for a refund in order to be considered for one.
About Steam Hardware Refunds
If you want to return Steam hardware, such as the Steam Deck, you have 14 days from the delivery date to request a refund.
To request a refund, simply log into your Steam account and click “Support” at the top of your page. From there, browse your purchases to look for your hardware order. The refund request process for hardware is the same as for downloaded content. After you complete your request, Steam customer service will emil you instructions for how to return the product.
When it comes to hardware refunds, you must explain why you’re asking for your money back. If the hardware’s no longer in re-sellable condition, Steam has the right to deny you a refund.
Can I Get A Refund For Pre-Ordered Games?
Steam is very lenient when it comes to games that you purchase before the game becomes available to the public. There are two scenarios in which you can be eligible for a refund on a pre-ordered game:
If you pre-ordered game isn’t released yet… | …you can cancel your pre-order at any time before the release date to get a refund. |
If your pre-ordered game has released… | …you have 14 days from the release date to request a refund. |
How To Contact Steam
Steam customer service is available by phone at 1-425-889-9642. Representatives are available 24/7 to answer phone calls. If you need assistance right away, call the number and wait to be addressed by a Valve representative. As of this writing, this is the only way to get in contact with Steam.
When you visit https://help.steampowered.com/en/, you’ll get a streamlined menu that will direct you to the right page whether you’re having problems with account details, billing, or other issues. If you’re having trouble with a specific game, the site will direct you to the game developer’s contact information.
Get Your Money Back Using aRefund.com
Let aRefund.com be your plan B when it comes to demanding refunds from all kinds of businesses. Whether you're looking for games, transportation, hotels, or anything you need to pay for, we can help you reason with your bank if companies have treated you unfairly. Keep aRefund.com in your back pocket and take a look at many other companies that have been on our radar:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Get A Refund On Steam Wallet Funds?
If you purchased Steam Wallet funds, you can request a refund. The 2 conditions, however, is that you must not use any of the funds towards the purchase of content, and that the funds must have been purchased ess than 14 days ago.
Can I Contact Steam Customer Service On Social Media?
Steam is on social media at channel such as Instagram, Facebook, and X. These aren’t customer service, accounts, however, as they’re primarily used to market Steam games and any pleas for help will fall on blind eyes. Instead, you can call Valve’s customer service number at 1-425-889-9642.
What Are The Steam Refund Terms For DLC?
You can request Steam refunds for downloadable content (DLC) for games you own, such as additional levels or an extra pack of characters. The same rules apply to DLC as it is to full games, where you have 14 days from the purchase date to play the content for fewer than 2 hours to qualify for a refund.
Can I Dispute Steam Purchases On PayPal?
Steam allows you to use PayPal to purchase content. If you purchased content with PayPal, but Steam denied your refund request, you can open a dispute with the PayPal Resolution Center. When this happens, a PayPal handler will request information from you to determine if Steam broke a rule in the company’s refund policy.
Your case will remain open for around 2 weeks or so. If PayPal rules in your favor, you’ll get a refund for the purchase, and if not, the transaction will stay on your account.
Can I Get A Refund On Content I Sent As A Gift?
If you bought content on Steam as a gift, you can request a refund on it. If the content hasn’t been redeemed, you have 14 days to request a refund. If the recipient has redeemed it, the same rules apply to a standard game purchase. The recipient must be the one to request the refund, but the funds will go to the sender’s method of payment.