Can I cancel a contract I signed yesterday?
It depends entirely on where you signed it, not just when.
It depends on how and where you signed it, not simply how recently. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give consumers a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts (made online or by phone) and off-premises contracts (made in person but away from the trader's own business premises, such as at your home). If you signed in person at the trader's own premises — in their shop, showroom, or office — there's generally no automatic legal right to cancel simply because you've changed your mind.
Where you signed determines your rights
| Where the contract was made | Cooling-off right? |
|---|---|
| Online or by phone (distance contract) | Yes — 14 days, generally for any reason |
| At your home, a pop-up stall, or an event (off-premises) | Yes — 14 days, generally for any reason |
| At the trader's own shop, showroom, or office (on-premises) | No general statutory right — depends on the trader's own policy or specific contract terms |
The logic behind this split is pressure and preparation: when you visit a business on your own terms, you're assumed to have had the chance to think it over. When a trader reaches you at home or you buy without physically inspecting anything, the law gives you a built-in second chance.
When the 14 days can be extended
Traders are required to give you specific cancellation information in a durable format (something you can keep, like an email or letter) before or shortly after the contract is made. If they fail to do this, the standard 14-day period doesn't just pause — it can extend significantly, in some cases up to 12 months from the original starting point. This is a strong incentive for traders to get the paperwork right, and a useful fact to check if you're past the usual 14 days but were never properly informed.
Exceptions even within the cooling-off categories
- Custom or personalised goods made to your specification generally aren't covered.
- Perishable goods, sealed goods unsealed for hygiene reasons, or sealed audio/video/software once unsealed, are typically excluded.
- If you asked for a service to begin during the cooling-off period and it's fully completed with your knowledge, you may lose the right to cancel that specific service.
- Some specific product and service categories (like certain financial products) fall under separate rules entirely.
What to do if you want to cancel
- Check exactly where and how you signed — this single fact decides whether a statutory cooling-off right applies at all.
- If it applies, cancel in writing as soon as possible, ideally using the trader's cancellation form if one was provided, or a clear written statement otherwise.
- If the trader never gave you proper cancellation information, check whether your window has actually been extended before assuming you've missed it.
- If you signed on the trader's own premises with no statutory right, check the specific contract terms for any voluntary cancellation policy before assuming you're stuck.
Related questions
Official sources
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