Cancellations
How do I cancel a sale within 3 days under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule?
Updated · By the Certified Letter Online team
Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule you can cancel a sale made at your home (or a buyer's workplace or dorm) of $25 or more, or at a temporary location such as a hotel or fair of $130 or more, until midnight of the third business day after the sale. Sign and date the cancellation form the seller gave you, or write your own letter, and mail it so it is postmarked within that window; the FTC suggests certified mail for proof.
Saturdays count as business days; Sundays and federal holidays don't. The seller must cancel and refund within 10 days.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Sales covered | At your home: $25+. At temporary locations (hotel, fair, rented room): $130+ |
| Deadline | Midnight of the 3rd business day after the sale (Saturdays count) |
| How to cancel | Sign and mail the cancellation form, or a letter, postmarked by the deadline |
| Seller must refund | Within 10 days of cancellation |
| Not covered | Real estate, insurance, securities; sales entirely online, by mail or phone; emergency repairs; sales finalized at the seller's permanent store; arts and crafts at fairs |
Step by step
- Count three business days from the sale date (include Saturday, skip Sunday and federal holidays).
- Sign and date one copy of the cancellation form, or use our cooling-off cancellation letter.
- Mail it to the address on the form so it is postmarked before the deadline. Certified Mail gives you a postmarked receipt.
- Keep a copy and the receipt. If you don't get a refund within 10 days, contact your state consumer office.
Timing with an online service
We hand letters to USPS on the same or next business day, so the postmark date is the mailing date on your certified receipt. If your deadline is today, mail it yourself at a Post Office before closing.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, a legal aid office or a licensed attorney in your state can tell you what applies.
Quick answers
Does the seller have to tell me about my right to cancel?
Yes. The seller must tell you about the right to cancel at the time of sale and give you two copies of a cancellation form plus a copy of the contract or receipt.
What if they never gave me a cancellation form?
Write your own cancellation letter and mail it postmarked within the three business days, according to the FTC.
Does the Cooling-Off Rule cover timeshares?
Timeshares are real estate, which the rule excludes, but state timeshare laws give their own cancellation periods. See timeshare rescission periods by state.
What to do next
Cancel before the deadline: fill in the cooling-off letter and we'll mail it Certified with a postmarked receipt for $14.99.
Send cancellation nowSources
- FTC: Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule
- 16 CFR 429.1: Cooling-Off Rule
- USA.gov: State consumer protection offices
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.