Contracts, Cancellations, Mail-Order Purchases, and Malicious Sales Practices

If you have trouble with a contract for goods or services — such as 'it's different from what was explained,' 'I can't cancel it,' 'I was charged a high amount,' or 'a product I didn't order arrived' — please consult someone early.

What to check before signing a contract

Please check things such as:

• The fee
• The contract period
• Automatic renewal
• Cancellation conditions
• Cancellation fees
• Return conditions
• The total amount to be paid

Even if you are strongly pressured to decide on the spot, you do not need to rush to sign a contract you do not understand.

Cooling-off period

For some types of transactions set by law, such as door-to-door sales or telemarketing sales, you may be able to cancel unconditionally within a certain period even after signing a contract.

This is called a "cooling-off" period (kuringu ofu).

The period differs by transaction type, such as 8 days or 20 days.

Internet mail-order purchases

Mail-order purchases do not have the same legal cooling-off system as door-to-door sales and similar.

However, when a business does not display its return conditions, among other cases, a different return rule may apply.

Please check the return and cancellation conditions before ordering.

Examples of suspicious contracts

Be cautious in cases such as:

• Being told "you will definitely make money"
• Being strongly pressured to sign a contract right away
• Being charged for something you don't remember
• Not being told how to cancel
• Being made to buy expensive products one after another
• Being asked to use someone else's bank account

Consumer Hotline 188

If you are not sure where to consult about a contract or a malicious sales practice, call 188.

You will be connected to a nearby consumer affairs center or similar consultation counter.

Keep evidence

Please save the contract, advertisement screens, emails, chat logs, receipts, invoices, and similar records.

What you can check next

• Bank Accounts, ATMs, Cards, and Overseas Remittance
• Moving Out of Rental Housing
• Consulting a Lawyer or Houterasu

Main places to check

• Consumer affairs center
• Consumer Affairs Agency
• National Consumer Affairs Center
• Houterasu