[jt2190]

> Not much point of using a credit card unless you want to spend money that you don’t have.

This is absolutely not why millions of people use credit cards. To repeat: Immediately handing cash to a merchant carries risk for the purchaser. What if the product is defective, or the order never filled, etc?

[vitorgrs]

This is really not a issue in Brazil. Consumers laws are strong. I actually prefer to use Pix for exact this reason, because I can get the refund in 1 second, literally (already did with Amazon). While with credit cards that's not the case.

[jt2190]

So the merchant is assuming more risk because the customer can take back their money... How long does the merchant need to wait before they're certain the payment they have received can't be taken back?

[vitorgrs]

If is online, over the phone, etc., you can return or cancel for any reason within 7 days. And this also include services. For example, if I sign up with a new ISP, I can cancel it within that 7-day period (even if it have a 1 year contract).

If it's in-person you bought something, technically you can only return up to 30 days for non durable goods, and 90 days for durable goods, if there's some problems with the product, or a reason etc.

[rodrigodlu]

With stronger consumer protection laws I will just send the thing back. If the merchant does not honor, is an easy case to win on the small claims courts.

The risk is buying from shady merchants and platforms that don't care about the legal system, or can delay the resolution of the dispute.

For instance buying from China on AliExpress, I will obviously not use Pix (through AliPay), but my credit card.