Your rights
14-day cooling-off for online subscriptions (UK)
If you arranged a service or bought goods online, by phone or by mail order, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually let you cancel within a cooling-off period without giving a reason.
What the law says
Regulation 29 says a consumer may cancel a distance or off-premises contract at any time in the cancellation period without giving any reason.
Under regulation 30, for a service contract, or digital content not supplied on a tangible medium, the period ends at the end of 14 days after the day the contract is entered into.
For goods, it usually ends 14 days after the day the goods come into your physical possession. For regular deliveries of goods (for example a recipe box), it runs from the first delivery.
When it usually does not apply
- If you arranged the service in the business's shop or premises (Citizens Advice).
- Some services such as accommodation, vehicle rental, or leisure activities for specific dates (Citizens Advice).
- Digital content you agreed to start straight away, after acknowledging you would lose the right to cancel (see our digital content page).
Practical tips
Citizens Advice says 14 days is the minimum, and some sellers give longer, so check the terms.
Cancel in a way you can prove, and keep a copy or screenshot.
Quick answers
Do I need to give a reason?
No. Regulation 29 lets you cancel in the cancellation period without giving any reason.
When does the 14 days start for a service?
Under regulation 30(2) it ends at the end of 14 days after the day the contract is entered into, so day 1 is the day after you signed up.