Put sales promises into the agreement or an attachment, confirm total price, term, renewal, and cancellation, and separately read warranty, limitation of liability, arbitration, class-action waiver, and governing-law terms. Enforceability varies by state and contract type.
Last updated: 2026-09-20
Clicking “I agree” can create a contract. The consequential terms are often renewal, cancellation, changing fees, liability limits, and dispute procedures. Save the version shown before signing or paying because web terms can change.
Ten checks
- Parties: legal names, addresses, contacts, and the separate roles of platform and service provider.
- Scope and delivery: product, service, quantity, standards, milestones, acceptance, and timing.
- Total price: taxes, shipping, setup, late, third-party fees, and rights to change price.
- Term and renewal: one-time or subscription, renewal frequency, notices, and price increases.
- Cancellation and refund: channel, deadline, early-termination fee, method, and processing time.
- Warranty: express promises, disclaimers, repair or replacement, and seller versus manufacturer duties.
- Liability limits: excluded damages and any monetary cap.
- Data and authorization: collection, sharing, recurring charges, and contact consent.
- Disputes: complaint steps, notice address, arbitration, class-action waiver, venue, and fees.
- Governing law: the selected state may shape the analysis without resolving every issue.
Do not assume a universal cooling-off period
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule covers certain sales made away from a seller’s permanent place of business and subject to its conditions. It does not create a general three-day right for all online, retail, real-estate, or other agreements. Industry and state rules may differ.
Preserve evidence and escalation routes
Keep advertisements, quotes, order pages, complete terms, attachments, confirmation messages, payment records, and support conversations. Follow the contract’s notice process with a specific requested resolution and dates. CFPB accepts complaints for covered financial products; USA.gov helps locate other company, state consumer-protection, regulator, and complaint routes.
These official sources were reviewed September 20, 2026. Consumer law, sector rules, and terms change, and this guide cannot decide whether a particular clause is enforceable.
Frequently asked questions
Does every U.S. consumer contract have a three-day cancellation right?
No. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule applies only to certain sales made at covered locations and under specified conditions.
Is every arbitration clause invalid?
No general answer fits every agreement. The text, transaction, federal and state law, and procedure all matter.
