Doorstep Selling UK: Your Rights & Cancellation Rules

Overview

Doorstep selling covers situations where a trader sells goods or services to you at your home, at someone else's home, at your workplace, or during an excursion organised by the trader. It usually happens without you asking them to call.

The key feature is that the contract is made away from the trader's usual business premises, which is why the law labels these 'off-premises contracts' and gives buyers extra protection. Typical examples include home improvements sold after a knock at the door, energy switching pitches on the doorstep, mobility products demonstrated in the living room, and subscriptions signed up to at a stall outside your flat.

The rules apply regardless of whether you invited the trader in or they arrived unannounced. They apply to sole traders, large companies, and charities selling goods or services in the same way. Business-to-business sales and very low-value purchases may be treated differently, so it is worth checking the specifics if your situation sits at the edges.

Key steps

1. Check whether the sale was off-premises. If the contract was agreed at your home, in your workplace, or somewhere other than the trader's shop or office, it almost certainly counts as an off-premises sale. That classification is what unlocks your cancellation rights, so it is the first thing to establish before anything else.
2. Find the paperwork the trader gave you. Traders are required to hand over clear written information at the point of sale, including details of what you are buying, the price, and how to cancel. If you cannot find a cancellation form or written terms, that itself is a problem and usually strengthens your position if you later want to back out.
3. Use the cancellation window. For most off-premises sales you have 14 days to change your mind without giving a reason. Put your cancellation in writing, send it by a method you can prove (email, recorded post, or a tracked message), and keep a copy. Do not rely on a phone call alone.
4. Handle any goods or part-completed work carefully. If items have been delivered, you usually need to make them available for collection or return them. If you asked the trader to start work inside the cancellation period, you may owe something for work already done. Stop further work as soon as you cancel so costs do not mount up.
5. Report poor conduct and chase your refund. If the trader refuses to refund, ignores your cancellation, or used aggressive tactics, raise it with Citizens Advice, which feeds information to Trading Standards. Keep notes of dates, names, and what was said. For card payments, your bank's chargeback route or a Section 75 claim may also help you recover money.

Common questions