Your Right to Cancel a Purchase in Florida
When you can cancel a purchase or contract in Florida, the deadline, and what stores must tell you about refunds.
Short answer: A buyer may cancel a home solicitation sale (a sale, lease or rental of consumer goods or services over $25, personally solicited and completed away from the seller's fixed business location, including certain unsolicited phone sales) until midnight of the third business day after signing. Fla. Stat. §§ 501.021, 501.025
| Right to cancel (cooling-off) | A buyer may cancel a home solicitation sale (a sale, lease or rental of consumer goods or services over $25, personally solicited and completed away from the seller's fixed business location, including certain unsolicited phone sales) until midnight of the third business day after signing. Cancellation is by written notice in person, by telegram or by mail (effective when postmarked) to the address in the agreement, in any form that shows the buyer's intent to cancel. Sales at fairs and similar exhibits, sales resulting from the buyer's request for specific goods or services, and certain motor vehicle dealer sales are excluded. Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 501.021, 501.025 |
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| Store refund policies | A retail store that offers no cash refund, credit refund or exchange must post a sign saying so at the point of sale. If no "no refund" sign is posted, a refund or exchange policy is presumed to exist and must be given in writing on request. A store that does not comply must give a refund, on request and with proof of purchase, for unused merchandise in its original carton returned within 7 days of purchase. Food, perishables, and custom-made or custom-altered goods are excluded. Source: Fla. Stat. § 501.142 |
Where to get help in Florida
- Florida Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division (complaints also handled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
- File a complaint or claim
More Florida consumer protection
- The Lemon Law in Florida
- Contractors and Repair Shops in Florida
- Filing a Consumer Complaint in Florida
- All Florida consumer protection rules
FAQ
Can you cancel a contract after signing it in Florida?
A buyer may cancel a home solicitation sale (a sale, lease or rental of consumer goods or services over $25, personally solicited and completed away from the seller's fixed business location, including certain unsolicited phone sales) until midnight of the third business day after signing. Cancellation is by written notice in person, by telegram or by mail (effective when postmarked) to the address in the agreement, in any form that shows the buyer's intent to cancel.
Do stores have to give refunds in Florida?
A retail store that offers no cash refund, credit refund or exchange must post a sign saying so at the point of sale. If no "no refund" sign is posted, a refund or exchange policy is presumed to exist and must be given in writing on request. A store that does not comply must give a refund, on request and with proof of purchase, for unused merchandise in its original carton returned within 7 days of purchase. Food, perishables, and custom-made or custom-altered goods are excluded.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.