- Price
- €7.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- Next business dayusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Delivery recordinto the letterbox, + tracking
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in Germany
When do the 14 days start and end?
The right of withdrawal covers contracts you made online, by phone or away from business premises. When it starts depends on the type of contract.
| Contract | The 14 days start |
|---|---|
| Buying goods | When you receive the goods, or the last delivery |
| Service, subscription, energy, phone | When the contract is made |
| No or wrong information about the right | The period does not start; the right ends 12 months and 14 days later at the latest |
| Example: goods received on Thursday 5 November 2026 | Withdrawal must be posted by Thursday 19 November 2026 |
Does the withdrawal have to go by registered mail?
No. Any clear statement is enough, including an email or the seller's form. You do not have to give reasons. Sending the goods back is not a withdrawal on its own: you must state that you withdraw.
Registered mail is worth it when a lot of money is at stake or the seller does not reply. It shows that you posted in time and when the letter was delivered.
What do you do after withdrawing?
Send the goods back within 14 days of your withdrawal. The business must refund the price and the standard delivery cost within 14 days, but may wait until the goods are back or you show you sent them. Keep the parcel's posting receipt for that.
How do you withdraw by registered mail?
- Check the deadline14 days from receiving the goods or from the contract.
- Write the withdrawalUse the German sample below with your order number and date.
- Upload by 12:00 CETThe letter is then posted the same business day.
- Send the goods backWithin 14 days after you withdraw.
Sample withdrawal letter in German
Based on the statutory model withdrawal form. No handwritten signature is needed.
An
[Name und Anschrift des Unternehmens]
Widerruf
Hiermit widerrufe ich den von mir abgeschlossenen Vertrag über den Kauf der folgenden Waren / die Erbringung der folgenden Dienstleistung:
[Bezeichnung, Bestellnummer]
Bestellt am [Datum] / erhalten am [Datum]
Bitte erstatten Sie mir den Kaufpreis und die Kosten der Hinsendung auf das Konto, von dem ich gezahlt habe.
[Vorname Nachname]
[Anschrift]
[Datum]
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give reasons?
No. It only has to be clear that you are withdrawing from the contract.
How long do I have?
Usually 14 days, from receipt for goods and from the contract for services. Without correct information about the right, up to 12 months and 14 days.
Is posting on the last day enough?
Yes. For a withdrawal, posting in time is enough. Upload by 12:00 Central European time on a business day and the letter is posted that day.
Does it have to be registered mail?
No. An email works too. Registered mail is proof of posting and delivery in case the seller disputes the withdrawal.
Is sending the goods back enough?
No. You must state that you withdraw. Put the statement in the parcel or send it separately.
Who pays for the return?
Usually you, if the seller said so in its withdrawal information. Otherwise the seller pays.