Cancellation Button: How to Easily Reverse Online Purchases

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Clicked quickly and already ordered – now it should be just as easy to cancel the deal. A new button makes it possible. Here’s what consumers need to know.

Source: dpa

No more searching for contact options, no cumbersome filling out of forms: Instead, simply cancel a contract with a mouse click. Such a cancellation button must be displayed prominently and clearly labeled on the websites of merchants, service providers, and many other companies starting June 19, according to the Bremen Consumer Center.

Easy to Handle

For example, the button could say "Cancel Contract." The button requirement applies to goods, online services, and online contracts for financial services and insurance. The cancellation process must not be more complicated than the contract conclusion.

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According to the Federal Association of Consumer Centers, a login is only permitted if it was also necessary for the contract. Additionally, only a few details may be required, such as name, order number, and an email address for confirmation. A reason for the cancellation cannot be mandatory.

Confirmation Comes Immediately

If consumers declare their cancellation digitally in this way, they must receive immediate confirmation in a storable format, such as via email. However, it is still possible to cancel in the traditional written manner.

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Important to know: The actual right of cancellation does not change with the new function. Cancellation is still only possible within the legal period, which is usually 14 days after the contract is concluded or after receiving the goods. If the new button is missing, the period can be extended by up to twelve months and 14 days, according to Bremen consumer advocates.

Not Yet Implemented EU-Wide

The button requirement is based on an EU directive. However, this has not yet been implemented in all member states, according to the European Consumer Centre.

Since the directive has already been incorporated into German law, the cancellation button is mandatory for all contracts to which German law applies. For applicability in EU countries, it depends on the implementation into the respective national law.

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