Peruutusoikeus

Peruutusoikeus, or the right of withdrawal, is a consumer entitlement that allows a purchaser to cancel a contract concluded at a distance or outside the trader’s premises within a cooling-off period without giving reasons. In Finland, the right is governed by the Consumer Protection Act in line with EU consumer rights rules.

The right applies mainly to distance contracts and off-premises contracts, such as online purchases, mail orders, or sales conducted away from the seller’s normal premises. It does not apply to all types of transactions; common exclusions include customized or sealed goods that the consumer has opened, perishable items, and certain digital content delivered on a non-tangible medium where the consumer has begun performance with consent and acknowledges loss of the right to withdraw.

The withdrawal period is typically 14 days. For goods, the period starts on the day the consumer receives the items; for services, it starts from the contract conclusion when the consumer has been given necessary information. If the service begins during the cooling-off period with the consumer’s consent and acknowledgment that the right to withdraw ends as the service is fully performed, the right may be limited accordingly.

To exercise the right, the consumer must notify the trader in a clear statement within the 14-day window (a standard withdrawal form is often provided). The consumer bears the cost of returning goods unless the trader has agreed to cover them or failed to inform about the withdrawal right. The seller must reimburse all payments, including standard delivery costs, within a defined period, using the same payment method as the original transaction, once the withdrawal is processed.

Special rules also apply to digital content and certain other services, where withdrawal may be excluded if performance has begun with the consumer’s prior consent.