A salesperson knocks on your door, presents a revolutionary product or a particularly attractive energy contract, and under the influence of persuasion, you sign. A few hours or days later, regret sets in: the product is too expensive, useless, or you simply cannot afford it. In French law, this common situation is strictly regulated to protect consumers against sometimes aggressive commercial practices. The right of withdrawal is your main legal weapon to cancel this contract without spending a single cent, provided you respect specific rules.
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Door-to-door sales, technically classified as a "contrat hors établissement" (off-premises contract) by consumer law, meets a very precise legal definition. It is not limited solely to salespeople knocking on the door of your home.
According to Article L. 221-1 of the Code de la consommation (French Consumer Code), an off-premises contract is a contract concluded between a professional and a consumer:
French law protects the consumer in these specific situations because it considers that the consumer was not actively seeking to make a purchase. They were caught off guard and could not compare prices or think things over calmly.
Please note, not all contracts signed at home benefit from the right of withdrawal. Article L. 221-28 of the Code de la consommation sets out a strict list of exclusions. You cannot withdraw from:
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The right of withdrawal is of ordre public (public order/mandatory law). This means that a professional cannot under any circumstances make you sign a contract in which you waive this right. Any clause to the contrary is null and void.
The legal withdrawal period is 14 calendar days. This period runs from:
Important note: If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, it is extended until the next working day.
The professional has a legal obligation to inform you of the existence of this right of withdrawal, its conditions, deadlines, and how to exercise it. They must also provide you with a standard withdrawal form.
If the professional fails to provide you with this mandatory information, the penalty is heavy for them: the withdrawal period is extended by 12 months from the expiration of the initial period (Article L. 221-20 of the Code de la consommation). If, during this extension period, the professional finally provides you with the information, the 14-day withdrawal period starts running again from the day you receive this information.
This is one of the most protective rules in French law (Article L. 221-10 of the Code de la consommation): it is strictly forbidden for the salesperson to collect any financial consideration, in any form whatsoever (cheque, cash, direct debit authorisation, credit card imprint), for a period of 7 days from the signing of the contract.
Even if the salesperson offers to keep the cheque "without cashing it", this is completely illegal. This prohibition aims to prevent the consumer from facing immediate financial pressure that would deter them from exercising their right of withdrawal.
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To better understand how these rules work, let us analyse two concrete situations.
On 1 October, Jean is approached at home by an energy transition company. Convinced by the salesperson's arguments, he signs a contract for the installation of photovoltaic panels worth €8,500. The salesperson asks him for a deposit cheque of €850 to "hold the order".
On 15 November, a salesperson from a telecom operator comes to Sofia's home and offers her a very advantageous fibre package at €29.99 per month. Sofia signs the subscription contract the same day. The internet box is delivered to her on 20 November.
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For your withdrawal to be legally unassailable, you must follow a rigorous procedure.
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[Signature of contract] ➔ [14-day period] ➔ [Send registered letter] ➔ [Return of goods] ➔ [Refund]
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Calculate your deadline precisely. Take the date of signature (for a service) or delivery (for goods), and add 14 days. If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, you have until the following Monday or the day after the public holiday.
You can use the standard form that must be attached to your door-to-door contract. If you do not have it or if it is illegible, write a letter on plain paper.
Here is a template letter you can adapt:
> [Your First Name] [Your Last Name]
> [Your Address]
> [Your Phone Number]
>
> [Company Name]
> [Company Address]
>
> Done in [Your City], on [Today's Date]
>
> Subject: Notification of withdrawal - Contract No. [Contract Number]
>
> Lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception (Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt)
>
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> On [Date of contract signature], I signed a contract at my home for [description of the item or service], for an amount of [Amount in euros] €.
>
> In accordance with Article L. 221-18 of the Code de la consommation, I hereby notify you of my decision to exercise my right of withdrawal regarding this contract.
>
> [Optional, if a payment was made:] I hereby give you formal notice to return the sum of [Amount] € which you collected early, within a maximum of 14 days from the receipt of this letter.
>
> Yours faithfully,
>
> [Your Signature]
Never send a withdrawal by simple email or standard post. A lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception (LRAR) is the only legally indisputable proof of the date your withdrawal was sent. Keep the proof of posting and, later, the signed acknowledgement of receipt returned by the professional.
If you have already received the product, you must return it to the professional at the latest within 14 days of sending your decision to withdraw. Unless otherwise stated in the contract, you must pay the return shipping costs. The product must be returned in a condition that allows for its resale (ideally in its original packaging).
The professional is required to refund all sums paid, including the initial delivery costs, within 14 days from the date they are informed of your decision to withdraw. In the event of a delay, the sums due are automatically increased by legal interest rates (Article L. 242-4 of the Code de la consommation).
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If the professional rejects your withdrawal under the pretext that the deadline has passed (even though you are on time) or that the contract does not allow it, you must send them a formal notice by LRAR to comply with the law. You can also report this practice on the official SignalConso platform (managed by the DGCCRF, the French fraud control agency) and contact a consumer mediator or a consumer protection association.
In French law, the sales contract and the crédit affecté (linked consumer credit) contract are legally bound. If you exercise your right of withdrawal for the main sales contract within the 14-day period, the credit contract intended to finance it is cancelled by right, without any penalty (Article L. 312-52 of the Code de la consommation).
No, this is completely false. The right of withdrawal in door-to-door sales is of ordre public (mandatory law). No clause in the contract, no signature, and no verbal statement can deprive you of this right. Any such clause is considered unfair and unwritten by French courts.
If you expressly requested the professional to start the work or service before the end of the 14-day period (via a written and signed request), you still retain your right of withdrawal. However, you will have to pay the professional an amount proportional to the services provided up to the moment you informed them of your withdrawal. If the work is fully completed at your express request before the end of the deadline, you can no longer withdraw.
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Legal information for guidance only, not personalised legal advice. For your specific situation, ask your question free of charge on AvocatAI — answers based on French law, in your language.