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Written by this site from official U.S. sources

Cancel a sale made at your home or a pop-up location by midnight of the third business day under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule

  • High value
  • Evidence A
  • Saves money
  • Free
  • Takes minutes
  • No willpower

In plain words

If you bought something for $25 or more at your home, or $130 or more at a seller's temporary spot like a hotel room or fairground, you can cancel for a full refund. You have until midnight of the third business day after the sale; Saturday counts, but Sunday and federal holidays don't. The seller must refund you within 10 days. The rule doesn't cover sales made entirely online, by mail or by phone. For those, check the seller's return policy, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Cost

Free. Mailing a cancellation letter costs a stamp, or a little more with a return receipt.

What you get

FTC: "The Cooling-Off Rule gives you three days to cancel certain sales made at your home, workplace, or dormitory, or at a seller's temporary location, like a hotel or motel room, convention center, fairground, or restaurant." It doesn't cover sales under $25 made at your home, under $130 made at temporary locations, or "made entirely online, by mail, or telephone". It also doesn't cover sales completed at the seller's permanent place of business, emergency purchases, real estate, insurance, securities, or arts and crafts at fairs. "Your right to cancel for a full refund lasts until midnight of the third business day after the sale. Saturday is considered a business day, but Sundays and federal holidays are not." The seller must tell you about your right to cancel at the time of sale and give you two copies of a cancellation form. A mailed cancellation "must be postmarked within three business days of the sale." After you cancel, "the seller has 10 days to" refund all your money, return any check you signed and return any trade-in. Within 20 days the seller must pick up the goods or pay your mailing costs if you agree to send them back. If you paid by card and were tricked, report it to the card issuer immediately (FTC); report the seller at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Notes

The Cooling-Off Rule is federal and applies nationwide; your state may add its own protections, so check your state attorney general. Keep the goods available to the seller after you cancel; if you don't, you stay responsible for paying under the contract. For a lost or stolen card, see the fraud reporting entry.

Evidence grade
A: Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.
Sources
  1. Federal Trade Commission. Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help （核对的是 web.archive.org 2026年9月27日的存档）
  2. Federal Trade Commission. What To Do if You Were Scammed. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed （核对的是 web.archive.org 2026年10月3日的存档）

Sources checked 2026-10-12

Replaces in the original

Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you.