What must I get before I sign a phone or internet contract in Austria, and can I change my mind?
Before you sign, the provider must give you a contract summary with the agreed prices, any minimum term and the services. The contract only takes effect once you have it; for phone sales it is sent afterwards and the contract starts when you confirm.
Before you sign, you should get the key terms in writing: price, term, speed and how to leave. In many countries a short contract summary is required, and contracts made online, by phone or at your door usually come with a cooling-off period. The rules for Austria are below.
📜 The rules in Austria
The details
- The summary must follow the EU template (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2243), be free of charge, and be provided before the contract, also for distance sales; it is a condition for the contract (§ 129(4) TKG 2021). (ris.bka.gv.at)
- For contracts made online, by phone or away from business premises you can withdraw within 14 days without giving reasons; for services the period starts on the day the contract is concluded (§ 11 FAGG). (ris.bka.gv.at)
- If you were not informed about the withdrawal right and given the model form, the withdrawal period is extended by twelve months. (konsumentenfragen.at)
- There is no general right of withdrawal for contracts signed in a shop. If you are unsure whether a product works at your home, agree a test period with the provider in writing. (rtr.at)
RTR-GmbH – Schlichtungsstelle für Kommunikationsdienste
Free dispute resolution with phone, internet and TV providers once your written complaint to the provider has failed.
🪜 Step by step
- Ask for the contract summaryRead the price after any discount, the minimum term, the speeds and the conditions for leaving.
- Keep everythingSave the summary, the contract and the offer you were shown, with the date.
- Know your cooling-off periodIf you signed online, by phone or at your door, check how long you have to change your mind.
- Cancel in a way you can proveUse the form or address the provider gives, and keep proof of when you sent it.
📇 Who to contact
Sponsor this page → One labelled block, €100 a month. Founding price €75 until 31 January 2027.
❓ Questions
Does the cooling-off period apply to a contract signed in a shop?
Usually not: it normally covers contracts made online, by phone or away from the shop.
Do I pay for days I already used?
If you asked for the service to start during the cooling-off period, you may have to pay for the days you used.
What if I never got a contract summary?
Tell the provider in writing and ask the regulator what this means for your contract in Austria.
📎 Sources
🧭 Is this still correct?
We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.
⚠️ Readers report that something here may have changed — we are checking it.
✅ Thank you — this keeps the page up to date for everyone.