When the period begins
For distance contracts and contracts concluded away from business premises, the withdrawal period is 14 days. The starting point depends on the type of contract:
| Contract | Start of period |
|---|---|
| Purchase of goods | day after receiving the goods |
| Several partial deliveries | day after receiving the last partial delivery |
| Service or subscription | day after the contract is concluded |
| Missing withdrawal notice | period extends to up to 12 months and 14 days |
What matters is that the withdrawal must be sent within the period. It is allowed to arrive afterwards — sending it in time is enough, provided this can be proven.
Why a letter is often better than the form
- You keep an exact copy of the wording.
- You don't depend on confirmation emails that end up in spam.
- In a dispute, you have a document, not just the other side's click log.
- A letter also reaches providers whose form is "temporarily unavailable" at the crucial moment.
Sample withdrawal letter
Subject: Withdrawal regarding order no. 987654
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby withdraw from the contract I concluded for the purchase of the following goods: 1 × item description. Ordered on 1 August 2026, received on 4 August 2026.
Please refund the amount paid of €129.00 to the original method of payment, and confirm in writing that you have received this withdrawal.
Yours faithfully
You do not need to give a reason. Giving one does no harm, but it is legally unnecessary — and can needlessly complicate matters.
What the withdrawal letter should include
- Name and address
- Order or contract number and customer number
- Order and delivery date
- Description of the goods or service
- An unambiguous declaration of withdrawal ("I hereby withdraw")
- Refund method and amount
- Date and signature
Return and refund
After withdrawing, you have 14 days to return the goods. The retailer must refund within 14 days of receiving the withdrawal — but may withhold payment until the goods, or proof of their return, have been received. The consumer only bears the cost of returning the goods if they were correctly informed about this in advance.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
- Goods made to the customer's specifications or clearly personalised
- Goods liable to deteriorate or expire quickly
- Sealed hygiene items, as well as unsealed audio, video or software recordings
- Newspapers and magazines outside of subscriptions
- Services fully performed with the customer's express consent
Deadline expiring today?
Timely sending of the declaration matters, not just ordering a postal service. If necessary, use an immediately available, documentable method such as email. You can prepare the text in the letter editor; a PDF alone does not prove postal sending.
Calculating the withdrawal period: an example
You receive goods on 4 August and have a valid withdrawal notice. The receipt day is excluded: the period starts on 5 August and ordinarily ends at the close of 18 August. If that date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, § 193 BGB may extend it. Check special rules for partial deliveries as well.
Is returning the goods enough?
No. Declare withdrawal clearly to the retailer. Returning goods without a statement is not, on its own, an unambiguous withdrawal declaration.
Do I have to sign the letter?
A statutory consumer withdrawal generally does not require a handwritten signature. It can also be declared by email. Choose a method that lets you document the wording and timely sending.
Use a sample and keep the evidence
Choose a suitable purchase withdrawal template with the order number, goods and dates. At a tight deadline, do not rely on an unverified postal handover time. See § 355 BGB, § 356 BGB and § 357 BGB.