Can I cancel a doorstep contract in Austria?
Usually yes — off-premises contracts carry a 14-day withdrawal right. Off-premises contracts (e.g. at the door) carry, under the FAGG, a 14-day right of withdrawal with no reason needed. The period runs for services from conclusion, and for goods only from receipt. The trader must hand over a model withdrawal form and all mandatory info on paper. If they don't inform you, the period extends to 12 months + 14 days. The FAGG doesn't apply where the price doesn't exceed €50. Withdrawal needs no particular form and is timely if sent before the deadline. In short: yes, 14 days, with some exceptions.
📋 The rules
- 14 days withdrawal with no reason
- Goods from receipt, services from conclusion
- Without notice: period 12 months + 14 days
- FAGG not below a €50 price
- Withdrawal is informal, sent in time
🔓 Exceptions
- Made-to-order/personalised goods: no withdrawal
- An expressly requested urgent repair: no withdrawal
- The old consumer right lapses if you initiated the contact
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If notice of the withdrawal right is missing, the period extends to at most 12 months + 14 days. On breach of info duties, on withdrawal you owe nothing for services or supplied energy. Whole categories are excluded (financial services, new builds/major renovations, residential leases, daily food deliveries). Beware a myth: "I always have 14 days to return what I buy" is false — for purchases made inside a shop or at a fair stand there's no general cooling-off right. Tip: send the withdrawal with proof (e.g. registered post) and keep records of the contract and delivery date.
📎 Official sources
- WKO · off-premises contracts →
- RIS · Distance & Off-Premises Act →
- konsumentenfragen.at · consumer rights →
❓ Frequently asked
What is a doorstep deal?
A doorstep deal, legally an off-premises contract, is a contract concluded outside the trader's business premises, for example at the door, in the street or at your home. For such contracts the FAGG gives a 14-day right of withdrawal with no reason needed.
How long do I have to withdraw?
You generally have 14 days. For services the period runs from conclusion of the contract; for goods only from the day you or a named person actually receive them. If you weren't informed of the withdrawal right, the period extends to at most twelve months and 14 days.
Are there exceptions to the withdrawal right?
Yes. There's no withdrawal for goods made to your specifications or clearly personalised, and for expressly requested urgent repairs. Whole contract types such as financial services, residential leases or daily food deliveries are also excluded from the FAGG.
Must the withdrawal have a particular form?
No. Withdrawal needs no special form and is timely if you send it before the deadline expires. You can use the model withdrawal form but don't have to. For evidence, a provable dispatch, such as registered post or e-mail with confirmation, is advisable.
Can I return everything within 14 days?
No. A 14-day withdrawal right mainly exists for off-premises and distance contracts, such as online. For purchases made directly in a shop or at a fair or market stand, there's no general withdrawal right as long as the goods are fault-free.
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