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Withdrawal letter for a distance or off-premises purchase (France)

Consumer
Notice & Demand
Français
France
Print & sign
1 page · 0 sold

Published byDocMuse

This document is in French

The PDF you download is in French — that is the language it has to be filed in, so it is not translated. Everything on this page is here to tell you what it says.

For a consumer in France who bought online, by phone, from a catalogue or from a doorstep seller and has changed their mind: you withdraw within 14 days without giving reasons under Article L. 221-18 of the French Consumer Code, and ask for everything you paid back within 14 days. The model withdrawal form, which the seller must give you free, works too, and since 19 June 2026 online shops must offer a withdrawal function. A letter in French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt or by e-mail so that you keep proof.

  • Made for use in France
  • Last updated October 13, 2026

When to use this document

  • You bought something online from a shop in France and have changed your mind.
  • A doorstep seller talked you into a purchase at home and you want to cancel it.
  • You ordered by phone or from a catalogue and want to send the item back for a refund.
  • You want to withdraw from a distance purchase in writing and keep proof of the date.

What you fill in

The details the document asks for.

  • Customer
  • Customer's address
  • Email
  • Trader
  • Trader's postal address (customer service)
  • City
  • Date
  • Order number
  • Date of the order
  • Date the goods were received
  • Goods or services withdrawn from

Preview

This document is produced for you. Your answers are typed into it and the finished PDF is yours to keep.

Preview coming soon

Common questions

Is the model form needed to withdraw from a purchase in France?
No. Any unambiguous statement is enough (Article L. 221-21 of the French Consumer Code): a letter, an e-mail, the model withdrawal form the seller must give you free of charge, or the withdrawal function online shops have had to offer since 19 June 2026. France's National Consumer Institute (INC) also publishes free model letters on inc-conso.fr. This letter gives the same details and also asks for the refund and a confirmation of receipt.
When does the 14-day period for withdrawing from an online purchase in France start?
For goods, when you, or a third party you named other than the carrier, receive them; for a service, when the contract is concluded (Article L. 221-18 of the French Consumer Code). If the seller never told you about the right, the period is extended by twelve months (Article L. 221-20). Send the letter before the period ends, by registered post with proof of receipt or by e-mail, so that you can prove the date.
Which purchases cannot be withdrawn from in France?
Article L. 221-28 of the French Consumer Code excludes, among others, goods made to your specifications, perishable goods, goods unsealed after delivery that cannot be returned for hygiene reasons, accommodation, transport or leisure services booked for a set date, and services fully performed before the period ends with your express consent. For other purchases you pay the return costs, unless the seller agrees to pay them or did not tell you about them (Article L. 221-23).

How you can sign this document

  • Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
  • Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked

DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.

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