Do you want to cancel your contract, whether it is in person, by phone or online? You may be interested in the following information.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not always have 10 days to cancel a contract. In many cases, only a court can cancel a contract concluded between a merchant and a consumer.

The law does not provide for a deadline to cancel a contract concluded in person, unless you're doing business with an itinerant merchant.

Cancelling a contract concluded with an itinerant merchant

Did you enter into an agreement with an itinerant merchant? Contractors are considered itinerant merchants if they solicit your business outside of their actual offices, for example, if they come to your home to sell their products or services.

What if you asked a home renovation contractor to come and meet you at your home? The Regulation respecting the application of the Consumer Protection Act considers this contractor as an itinerant merchant when he or she sells, installs or repairs:

  • doors and windows;
  • thermal insulation;
  • roofing or exterior wall covering of a building.

In such a case, you can cancel the contract without fees or explanations within 10 days after receiving a written copy of the contract. The contract can be cancelled even if the contractor has already started the work.

The cancellation deadline includes Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays. However, if the 10th day falls on any of those days, the deadline is deferred to the next business day. If the 10th day falls on Easter Monday, for example, the deadline will be the next day (Tuesday).

Procedure to cancel

You must notify the merchant in writing. Send the cancellation form you received along with the contract, or a letter.

In legal terms, " contract cancellation " means you want to end the contract. This means that you will find yourself in the situation you were in before you signed the contract. If you already made a payment to the contractor, he or she must reimburse you within 15 days after you send the cancellation form or letter.

Cancelling within one year

In some cases, you can cancel a contract within the year following the day it was signed by the 2 parties (the merchant and yourself). You can do so if, for example :

  • the merchant you are doing business with did not hold a valid licence or permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur when you signed the contract;
  • the contract did not contain all the mandatory information prescribed by the law;
  • the merchant did not provide all mandatory documents :
  • the merchant did not provide the service within 30 days following the date indicated in the contract or, past those 30 days, the date agreed upon with 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 merchant has not respected certain commitments.

Situations Cancellation time limit
The work did not start :
  • within 30 days following the date agreed upon in writing;
  • within 30 daysfollowing the contract signature date, if no other date is indicated in the contract.
Anytime, before start of work
The contractor did not provide a written contract within 15 days after you entered into an agreement. 30 daysfollowing the contract signature date
  • The contractor 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.)
  • The contractor 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.
7 days following receipt of a copy of the contract

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 contractor 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 :

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Last update : February 28, 2023

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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.