Numerous shopping websites are tightening up their returns and refunds policies and even blacklisting those who return too much.
'Serial returners' including Instagram influencers are allegedly damaging profits at online based fashion chains such as ASOS by buying items, wearing them once and then sending them back for a full refund.
Now a number of people on Twitter have complained that they have had their online accounts deactivated, seemingly for breaking the new, tougher rules.
It has been reported that as many as one in five websites are making it tougher for customers to return items.
A survey by Barclaycard found that 20 per cent of online stores have tightened their returns policy in the past 12 months and another 19 per cent plan to do so, reports the Daily Mail.
In an email sent to customers ASOS has also revealed the time to return items has been increased to 45 days. After 28 days shoppers will receive a gift voucher to spend online.
But hundreds of its customers have hit out since the crackdown.
Speaking to the Mail, Director of Strategy at Barclaycard, Anita Liu Harvey, said: "The volume of goods being returned continues to rise and consumers have come to expect free returns as standard - otherwise they will shop elsewhere.
"As a result, we are seeing retailers implementing stricter returns policies to try to clamp down on serial returners and reduce the impact that returns are having on their business.
"These more stringent policies have begun to affect consumers, with some retailers starting to send warning emails to customers about accounts being deactivated, should unusual or suspicious behaviour continue."
