Legal Question in Business Law in California

Before you bring the seller to court, you might try a few other options. First, did you pay with PayPal or other on-line payment service. If so, many of these services have a dispute resolution method. PayPal's is particularly effective. Second, if you paid with a credit card, call the issuer and cancel the payment. Some issuers will simply cancel the charge; others will show it as disputed and look into it for you.

If these informal methods fail, go ahead and file an action in the appropriate court. If your are an individual (i.e. not a business entity), you can sue in small claims court for up to $7500. If the seller is out of California, you may need to sue in the limited jurisdiction (up to $25,000) or unlimited jurisdiction (over $25,000) court.