DisputeKit / States / Illinois
Your consumer rights in Illinois
What Illinois and federal law say about getting a security deposit back, refunds and cancelling subscriptions, with the law cited and a sample letter for each.
Security deposits
45 days to return the deposit in full, or 30 days to send an itemized claim. Under Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1, a landlord must furnish an itemized statement of the claimed damage with the estimated or actual repair cost of each item and copies of paid receipts before keeping any part of the deposit for damage within 30 days. The clock starts when you move out and hand back possession of the unit. A court may also award an amount equal to twice the security deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, if the landlord refused to provide the itemized statement or provided it in bad faith and did not return the deposit due on time.
Refunds
If a company won't refund you, send a written demand with a clear deadline. If you paid by credit card, you may also be able to dispute the charge: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a billing-error dispute must reach the card issuer in writing within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge.
Subscriptions
Illinois has its own automatic-renewal law for subscriptions, on top of the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.
Small claims and complaints in Illinois
- Illinois consumer law
- Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505/2
- Where to file a complaint
- Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division complaint
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 281)
- Filing fee
- Varies by county and claim amount; check with the circuit court clerk (fee waivers are available)