Executive Summary
Buyers of certified pre-owned phones receive a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee. Trade-in sellers may decline revised assessment offers and receive their device back 100% free of charge. All repairs include a 90-day hardware warranty.
This Return & Refund Policy applies to all consumer transactions conducted with PhoneCash USA ("PhoneCash USA," "we," "us"). By placing a certified phone purchase, initiating a trade-in buyback, or booking a hardware repair, you agree to the conditions below.
1 Purchases — 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
1.1 Return Eligibility
You may return any certified pre-owned smartphone purchased directly from PhoneCash USA within 30 calendar days of confirmed FedEx/USPS delivery for a complete refund, provided:
- The smartphone is returned in the identical condition received.
- All accessories, charging cables, and warranty packaging are included.
- The device has not suffered secondary physical drops, liquid intrusion, or unauthorized disassembly.
- All personal cloud accounts (Apple iCloud, Google Account, Samsung Knox) have been properly signed out.
1.2 Return Procedure
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Prepaid Return Shipping Label
We will email a trackable, fully insured prepaid FedEx/USPS return shipping label within 24 business hours.
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Diagnostic Inspection
Our diagnostic team inspects the returned unit within 2 business days of arrival to verify hardware integrity.
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Refund Disbursement
Refunds are released back to your original payment method (Credit Card, PayPal, or Zelle) within 3–5 business days.
| Return Scenario |
Refund Amount |
Return Shipping |
| Certified phone returned within 30 days (as described) |
100% Full Refund |
Free (Prepaid Label) |
| Carrier incompatibility or item mismatch |
100% Full Refund |
Free (Prepaid Label) |
| Buyer-inflicted accidental damage / dropped |
Partial / Repair Fee Deducted |
Buyer Responsible |
| Requests beyond 30 calendar days |
Not Eligible for Return |
— |
2 Trade-In Offer Rejection & Free Device Return
If our diagnostic facility determines that your trade-in smartphone’s cosmetic condition or operational status differs from your online quote, we will issue a revised valuation. You have 5 business days to review and decide.
Zero Obligation Guarantee: If you decline our revised trade-in assessment, we will safely package and return your smartphone to your address via trackable FedEx shipping at zero cost to you. We never charge inspection, diagnostic, or return shipping fees.
3 90-Day Hardware Repair Warranty
All component repairs (including screen replacements, OEM battery swaps, and camera modules) are protected by a 90-day limited warranty covering parts and labor.
- Covered: Component defects, touchscreen responsiveness failure, or assembly workmanship flaws.
- Not Covered: Subsequent drop cracks, liquid submersion, or third-party repair tampering.
Cookie & Advertising Transparency
PhoneCash USA uses essential, analytical, and advertising cookies to ensure site functionality, calculate accurate trade-in valuations, and display non-intrusive advertisements in compliance with Google AdSense policies and CCPA/CPRA regulations [1].
1 Categories of Cookies We Utilize
1.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for technical operations, including keeping your device valuation calculator choices active across sessions and securing quote submissions against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). Legal basis: Legitimate business interest.
1.2 Google AdSense & DoubleClick DART Cookies
We partner with Google to serve contextual and interest-based advertisements:
- Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on PhoneCash USA based on prior visits to this and other websites across the Internet.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their browsing behavior.
- Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
1.3 Analytics & Performance Cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 to track anonymized user flows, device categories, and regional conversion rates across the United States. All IP addresses are automatically masked. You may opt out anytime using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Add-on.
1.4 Affiliate Referral Cookies
When you click on recommended refurbished electronics or accessory partner links on our website, a secure 30-day tracking cookie is placed solely to record sales attribution. No personally identifiable information (PII) is ever shared.
2 Cookie Expiration & Governance
| Cookie Classification |
Duration |
Mandatory / Optional |
| Strictly Necessary Session |
Session / 24 Hours |
Essential |
| Google AdSense & Advertising |
30–90 Days |
Consent Controlled |
| Google Analytics (Masked IP) |
14 Months |
Opt-Out Available |
| Affiliate Tracking Tags |
30 Days |
Anonymized Token |
3 Consumer Privacy Controls & CCPA Notice
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents maintain the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
To exercise your opt-out rights, utilize the NAI Consumer Opt-Out Tool or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Portal.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Compliance Statement
In full compliance with 16 CFR Part 255 (Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising), PhoneCash USA discloses that we participate in affiliate marketing programs and may receive commissions on purchases made via outgoing partner links at zero extra cost to the consumer [1].
1 Nature of Affiliate Relationships
PhoneCash USA maintains commercial affiliate relationships with verified electronics refurbishment platforms (such as certified marketplace programs, trade accessories manufacturers, and certified device protection providers). When users click on product recommendation links and complete a purchase, PhoneCash USA may earn a referral commission.
2 Editorial Independence & Price Neutrality
Our Guarantee: Affiliate partnerships never influence our trade-in cash calculator offers or valuation models. Buyback valuations are calculated strictly based on real-time US wholesale market liquidity, device health, and raw component recovery pricing.
3 Guidelines for Promoting Affiliates & Publishers
Third-party publishers, influencers, and partners participating in the PhoneCash USA Buyback Referral Program must adhere strictly to FTC endorsement standards [1]:
- Clear & Conspicuous: Disclosures must be placed prominently above the fold or immediately preceding any referral link [1].
- Prohibited Practices: Affiliates may not make deceptive claims regarding trade-in values, fabricate user reviews, or impersonate carrier representatives.
4 Federal & State Legal Framework
This disclosure operates in strict accordance with:
- Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. § 45) prohibiting unfair or deceptive commercial practices.
- CAN-SPAM Act requirements for commercial digital communications.
- Applicable state consumer protection laws across all 50 operating US states.
Licensed Secondhand Dealer & E-Waste Regulatory Notice
PhoneCash USA operates as a licensed secondhand dealer and certified electronics recycling handler. All trade-in transactions are executed under strict adherence to federal anti-theft statutes, local law enforcement reporting mandates, and EPA e-waste standards.
1 Federal Anti-Theft Statutes & Identification
1.1 Interstate Stolen Property Act (18 U.S.C. § 2315)
It is a federal violation to knowingly transmit, sell, or receive stolen electronics in interstate commerce. PhoneCash USA utilizes real-time verification databases to protect consumers and prevent illicit transactions.
1.2 IMEI Integrity & Anti-Tampering (47 U.S.C. § 227)
Federal law prohibits the alteration, reprogramming, or removal of hardware IMEI/ESN serial identifiers. Devices with tampered or mismatched IMEI numbers will be rejected immediately.
2 Mandatory Pre-Purchase Verification Protocol
Prior to releasing trade-in funds, every incoming smartphone must pass 5 verified database checks:
- CTIA National Stolen Device Check: Verification against the national stolen hardware registry.
- Carrier Blacklist Verification: Live checks with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile for lost/stolen flags.
- Insurance Fraud Registry: Cross-referencing active insurance replacement claim databases.
- Activation Lock Status: Confirming removal of Apple iCloud Activation Lock and Google FRP Locks.
- Installment Verification: Determining carrier Equipment Installment Plan (EIP) status.
⚠️ Stolen & Blacklisted Device Policy: Devices identified as stolen or fraudulent will be immediately quarantined, rejected for payment, and documented for local law enforcement authorities as mandated by state secondhand dealer regulations.
3 DoD 5220.22-M & NIST SP 800-88 Data Sanitization
To ensure total consumer data privacy, every accepted device is wiped using automated, military-grade data eradication software adhering to NIST Special Publication 800-88 Revision 1 Guidelines for Media Sanitization. All storage sectors, caches, and cryptographic keys are permanently overwritten.
4 IRS Tax & 1099 Reporting Obligations
In accordance with IRS regulations governing commercial purchases of goods from individuals, transactions exceeding gross annual reporting thresholds ($600+) may require the seller to submit a Form W-9 for 1099-MISC/1099-NEC documentation.