If you wish to cancel a contract for plumbing or electrical work, specific rules apply.

Contrary to the popular belief, you do not benefit from a 10-day delay to cancel a contract concluded in person. Often, only a tribunal can cancel a contract concluded between an electrician or a plumber and you.

If your contract was concluded online or by phone, specific rules apply. It is possible to cancel a contract without needing to pay any fees, within short elapsed time periods, if the electrician or plumber has not respected certain commitments.

Situations Cancellation time limit
The work did not start :
  • 30 days following the date agreed upon in writing;
  • within 30 jours following the contract signature date, if no other date is indicated in the contract.
Anytime, before start of work
The electrician or plumber must provide a written contract within 15 days after you entered into an agreement. 30 days following the contract signature date
The electrician or plumber did not provide all the mandatory information before you entered into an agreement, or it failed to provide them clearly.

(If you become aware of this only after the 1st day of work, you then have 7 days from that moment to cancel the contract.)
7 days following receipt of a copy of the contract
The electrician or plumber did not clearly provide the opportunity to accept or refuse its proposal or to amend it.
The contract you received does not contain all the mandatory information.
The contract you received cannot be printed and retained.

How to cancel a distance contract

To cancel a distance contract, you must send a cancellation notice to the contractor. You are free to use the notice template and method of delivery of your choice. The Office de la protection du consommateur advises you to use registered mail or any other method that provides a proof of delivery.

The cancellation will take effect on the notice’s delivery date. The contractor must refund you within 15 days after the notice’s delivery.

Credit card purchases

Did you use a credit card to make a purchase? If the electrician or plumber refuses to refund you within 15 days following the purchase cancellation, you can file a chargeback request within 60 days.

Chargebacks allow you to ask your credit card company to credit the amount paid to your account.

For further information on this topic, please see :

Last update : May 3, 2021

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The information contained on this page is presented in simple terms to make it easier to understand. It does not replace the texts of the laws and regulations.