TikTok Shop After-Sale Dispute Escalation Policy

Overview

The TikTok Shop After-Sale Dispute Escalation Policy provides some requirements for TikTok Shop's after-sale dispute handling services. This policy applies to customers who escalate disputes between themselves and sellers due to after-sale issues (via our after-sale dispute handling service). They also explain our principles, procedure, and basis for dispute handling and resolution. These guidelines apply to Mexico only.
Important Notes:
  • The TikTok Shop After-sale Dispute Handling Service is an addition to the remedies and rights available to customers under Mexican laws. Any restrictions or limitations set out in these policies relate to the availability of the after-sale dispute handling service offered by TikTok. They do not impose any constraints on a customer's rights under applicable law to directly raise after-sale issues with the seller, TikTok, or third parties.
  • Our TikTok Shop policies are updated periodically. Sellers are responsible for checking this page regularly to ensure that they comply with our current policy.

After-sale period

  • If a customer wishes to raise a dispute via the TikTok After-sale Dispute Handling Service, they must submit the request within our various acceptance periods. Once the acceptance period lapses, all disputes shall be handled and resolved between the seller and customer without TikTok Shop's involvement.
  • Unless otherwise required by applicable law, TikTok Shop will not be involved beyond facilitating communication between both parties.

Eligibility

TikTok Shop only accepts after-sale disputes raised by customers who purchase on TikTok Shop. We do not handle any disputes concerning transactions outside of our platform.
The following circumstances are beyond the scope of these guidelines:
  • The customer is not an actual TikTok Shop buyer.
  • The customer decided to withdraw the dispute.
  • No valid transaction occurred between the customer and the seller.
  • Either party fails to perform the agreed actions or intends to breach the agreed resolution that was determined by our After-sale Dispute Handling Service.
  • An ongoing product return/refund request is in process.
  • There have already been two dispute requests closed for the involved product(s).
Without TikTok's involvement, the customer or seller may still seek further remedies via the judicial process or other proper channels.

TikTok Shop's Involvement

TikTok Shop will act as a reasonable party to any after-sale dispute arising from unresolved conflict or breakdowns in negotiations between sellers and customers. All outcome decisions are made at TikTok Shop's sole discretion. We do not guarantee that the dispute settlement result will meet the expectations of customers or sellers, nor do we bear any responsibility for any outcomes.
Customers and sellers are at any time entitled to resolve their disputes without TikTok's involvement and seek other remedies authorized by applicable laws.

TikTok Shop Dispute Judgment

TikTok Shop will look into disputes escalated to us based on the supporting materials submitted by the seller and customer.
Both the seller and customer must ensure the following:
  • All supporting documents/materials must be submitted in time.
  • All submitted information must be authentic, relevant, complete, and accurate.
If the seller or customer fails to submit the necessary supporting materials, we will make a judgment based on the materials we have received. We may also conduct further investigations based on the submitted evidence.

After-Sale Dispute Procedure

Platform Intervention

TikTok Shop encourages customers and sellers to attempt to resolve after-sale requests by themselves. All sellers should comply with our TikTok Customer Order Cancellation, Return and Refund Policy when dealing with customer after-sale requests.
If the after-sale request cannot be resolved, TikTok Shop will intervene if the customer submits a dispute request to us via our after-sale dispute handling service.

Supporting Material Submission

Sellers and customers must submit all necessary supporting materials for TikTok Shop to judge the dispute.
  • We will first refer to the supporting documents submitted by the customer in previous communications with the seller regarding the initial after-sale request.
  • If additional supporting materials are required, the seller and customer are responsible for collecting and submitting the materials as needed.

Investigation and Communication

TikTok Shop will use all submitted supporting materials as well as relevant data in our system (such as order details) to judge the dispute. During the dispute handling process, we will use the seller's customer service contact information and the customer's contact information as the primary communication channels to notify both parties about the outcome of the dispute.

Dispute Cancellation

If customers and sellers are able to reach a mutual agreement, they can cancel the after-sale dispute request. If a dispute is withdrawn by the requester or rejected by us, the customer can initiate a new request within the stipulated acceptance period.
A customer can raise a maximum of 2 dispute requests with respect to each product.
TikTok Shop will stop intervention in the following circumstances:
  • The customer and the seller agree to handle the dispute by themselves.
  • The customer or the seller decides to start a judicial process via the courts, a regulatory body, external mediation, or any other dispute resolution process.

Dispute Judgment

The following are our guidelines regarding dispute judgment:
  • If we determine the submitted materials support the customer's dispute request, we will decide in favor of the customer.
  • If we determine that the submitted materials support the seller's claims, we will support the seller and reject the customer's dispute.
  • If we determine that the customer's submitted materials are insufficient to support their dispute request, we will decide in favor of the seller.
  • If we determine that the seller's submitted materials are insufficient to support their dispute request, we will decide in favor of the customer.
Once a judgment is made, we will notify the customer and seller simultaneously. Both parties can check the outcome details through the Seller Center (for sellers) or My Account (for customers).
  • If the customer is not satisfied with the judgment, they can raise another dispute request to us. One customer can raise a maximum of two dispute requests per product. The request must be raised within two (2) calendar days after being notified of the judgment.
  • If the seller is unsatisfied with the judgment, they can raise a ticket to TikTok Shop for appeal. Sellers may submit a ticket in the Seller Center. The request must be raised within two (2) calendar days after being notified of the judgment.

Post-dispute Actions

If there is no further disagreement, the party (seller or customer) that has been determined responsible for the dispute must follow TikTok Shop's final judgment and complete any post-dispute actions.

Seller Post-dispute Actions

If we determine that the seller is responsible for the dispute, they must take all necessary steps (or post-dispute actions) to follow the final judgment within 48 hours. If sellers fail to do so, our payment service provider will automatically deduct any payments from the seller.
Examples of post-dispute actions include:
  • Refund or replacement of products.
  • Sending necessary products.
  • Any other determined remedy.
If any shipping fees are involved, the sellers should bear the shipping fee.

Customer Post-dispute Actions

In most cases, customers will be required to return the product to the seller. If the product is unsuitable for a return (e.g., counterfeit, wholly damaged, lost or customized products), a refund will be processed without a product return.
Below are some product return scenarios.
  • The product(s) were inconsistent with the product listing.
    • If the claim is about deceptive or fraudulent products, once the customer returns the product (and uploads the return shipping information), the seller must bear all the risk of product breakage, damage, and loss.
    • If the claim does not involve deceptive or fraudulent products, once the customer returns the product (and uploads the return shipping information), the seller should bear the risk of product breakage while the customer should bear the risk of product damage and loss.
  • The product(s) have quality issues.
    • If the product quality issue is significant (for example, the products are not functional or workable), once the customer returns the product (and uploads the return shipping information), the seller should bear all the risk of product breakage, damage, and loss.
    • If the quality issue is minor (for example, the sound of some electrical toys is too soft), once the customer returns the product (uploads the return shipping information), the seller should bear the risk of product breakage. In contrast, the customer should bear the risk of product damage and loss.

Further Information

TikTok Shop may use third-party information to verify disputes. This information may be used as a reference for our decision-making outcomes.
If sellers deliver a large number of products that are of inferior quality or are inconsistent with the product listing, we will take the following steps:
  • We will investigate whether the seller had no intention of fulfilling the order accurately.
  • If it is determined that the seller acted in bad faith and did not intend to fulfill the order, we will support a refund from the seller to the customer.
If the seller's products are reported by the media as unqualified or unsafe, or the product is tested to be hazardous by a certified regulator or authorized third party, the following will occur:
  • We will support a refund from the seller to the customer.
  • The seller shall be held responsible for any product recalls and must support all refunds to the customer.
  • Where product recalls are not applied to all batches of products, the seller must provide supporting documents to justify why the remaining products were not recalled.