What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'WEB_FORM', 'recipient': 'https://www.coursera.support/s/', 'difficulty': 'MODERATE', 'action_type': 'DISPUTE_FEE', 'instructions': "Contact Coursera's Help Center to request a refund within the applicable refund window. Document the refund policy terms in effect at the time of purchase, as Coursera reserves the right to change this policy.", 'deadline_days': 14, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': 'The FTC has authority to investigate unilateral and opaque refund policy modifications as unfair or deceptive practices under FTC Act Section 5, particularly for subscription products subject to negative option marketing guidance.', 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'State_AG', 'reason': 'State attorneys general enforce auto-renewal disclosure laws and consumer protection statutes governing refund policy transparency, particularly in California.', 'complaint_url': 'https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Refund and Payment Policy clause as medium severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Refund and Payment Policy — Coursera

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What it is

You must pay all fees in US dollars and are subject to Coursera's refund policy, which can be changed by Coursera at any time without prior notice.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

If you pay for a Coursera course, certificate, or subscription, the refund terms in effect at the time of purchase could be unilaterally changed by Coursera before you request a refund, potentially leaving you with no refund option for content you can no longer access.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.

Dispute a Fee
Within 14 days
Contact Coursera's Help Center to request a refund within the applicable refund window. Document the refund policy terms in effect at the time of purchase, as Coursera reserves the right to change this policy.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Refund and Payment Policy and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

Coursera's ability to change its refund policy at any time — including for already-purchased courses — means the refund terms you relied on when purchasing may no longer apply when you seek a refund.

View original clause language

Unless otherwise explicitly stated, fees are stated in U.S. Dollars. You are responsible for paying all fees and applicable taxes associated with our Services using a valid payment method. Coursera's refund policies are set forth in its Help Center, and Coursera reserves the right to change its pricing and refund policies at any time.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Unilateral modification of refund policies post-purchase implicates FTC Act Section 5 (unfair or deceptive acts) and state consumer protection statutes including California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(14)) which prohibits representing a transaction as having characteristics it does not have. The EU Consumer Rights Directive (Directive 2011/83/EU) provides a 14-day right of withdrawal for digital content purchases, which Coursera must comply with for EU customers. Auto-renewal subscription charges are subject to FTC guidance on negative option marketing and state auto-renewal laws (e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600). 2)

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC has authority to investigate unilateral and opaque refund policy modifications as unfair or deceptive practices under FTC Act Section 5, particularly for subscription products subject to negative option marketing guidance.
File a complaint →
State AG

State attorneys general enforce auto-renewal disclosure laws and consumer protection statutes governing refund policy transparency, particularly in California.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

Coursera Terms of Use

Entity

Coursera

Document last updated

April 29, 2026

Tracking information

First tracked

April 18, 2026

Last verified

April 18, 2026

Record ID

CA-P-002851

Document ID

CA-D-00157

Evidence Provenance

Source URL

https://www.coursera.org/about/terms

Wayback Machine

View archived versions →

SHA-256

d67cd5c44e1912191635fd8b7e2198b45b8ec6ab8725f8a00753d9335a136c85

Verified

✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Change verified

How to Cite

ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Coursera | Document: Coursera Terms of Use | Record: CA-P-002851
Captured: 2026-04-18 10:12:56 UTC | SHA-256: d67cd5c44e191219…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/coursera/coursera-terms-of-use/refund-and-payment-policy/
Accessed: May 2, 2026

Classification

Severity

Medium

Refund and Payment Policy