Signed a Solar Contract at Your Door? Cancel Within 3 Days

If you signed a covered solar contract at your home, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel in writing. If the seller failed to give the required cancellation notice, the cancellation argument may be stronger than the salesperson suggests.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives homeowners a federal three-business-day right to cancel most door-to-door solar contracts — covering any sale of $25 or more made at your home or anywhere that isn't the seller's permanent place of business — and if the salesperson failed to provide the required written cancellation notice, your right to rescind may remain open indefinitely, providing a powerful legal lever against predatory contracts.

If you are still inside the cancellation window, do not wait for a callback. Put the cancellation in writing, send it through a trackable method, save proof, and keep the installer off the property until the cancellation is resolved. If the company already started financing or scheduled installation, preserve those records for a lender dispute or attorney review.

Overview

A salesperson knocked on your door, gave you a pitch about saving thousands on electricity, and before you knew it, you'd signed a 25-year solar contract. Now you're panicking. The good news: federal law gives you the right to cancel most door-to-door sales within 3 business days.

The FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429) is your legal lifeline — but only if you act fast and follow the correct procedure.

If financing was also signed, review solar loan rescission and lender defenses. If the company keeps charging after cancellation, the chargebacks and ACH disputes guide explains payment-dispute options.

How to cancel your solar contract in 4 steps:

1. Write your cancellation notice immediately — it must be in writing (email if the contract lists an email address; otherwise certified mail) and must state clearly: "I am canceling under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429."
2. Include your contract date, contract number, and property address — make the cancellation unambiguous so the company cannot claim confusion about which contract you are canceling.
3. Send it within the 3-business-day window — Saturdays count, Sundays and federal holidays do not; the notice must be postmarked or sent before the window closes, not received.
4. Keep proof and do not let them start work — save emails, certified mail receipts, and screenshots; if installation begins before cancellation is processed, you may gain additional legal claims for trespass or conversion.

The FTC Cooling-Off Rule: Your 3-Day Lifeline

The Federal Trade Commission's rule gives consumers the right to cancel contracts for goods or services sold at their home, or any location that is not the seller's permanent place of business.

Key facts:

• 3 business days to cancel — Saturdays count, Sundays and federal holidays do not.
• Sale must be $25 or more — virtually all solar contracts qualify.
• The seller MUST provide written notice of your cancellation rights at the time of the sale. If they didn't, your right to cancel may extend beyond 3 days.
• Cancellation must be in writing — a phone call is not enough.

What If the Salesperson Never Told Me I Could Cancel?

The seller must provide a completed cancellation form (in duplicate) and a written statement of your right to cancel.

If they failed to provide either, your right to cancel may remain open indefinitely. Consumer protection attorneys use this to unwind predatory contracts months after signing.

State Laws: Additional Protections

• California: 3-day right to cancel. If cancellation language is missing, the buyer can rescind at any time.
• South Carolina: 3-day cancellation window — consistent with the federal standard.
• Washington: 3-day right to cancel solar contracts under RCW 19.95. Contractor must release liens within 20 days.
• Colorado: Welcome call confirming key contract details, with an additional 3-day rescission window after the call.

How to Cancel: Step-by-Step

1. Write the cancellation immediately. Must be in writing. Email if the contract lists an email address; otherwise, certified letter.
2. State: "I am canceling under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule." Include contract date, number, and address.
3. Send it today. Must be postmarked or sent within the 3-business-day window.
4. Keep proof. Save emails, certified mail receipts, screenshots.
5. Do NOT let them start work. Beginning installation before cancellation may give you additional claims.

What Happens After You Cancel?

• All payments must be refunded within 10 days.
• Financing documents must be canceled and returned.
• Third-party lenders must be notified.
• Any security interest or lien must be terminated — typically within 20 days.

Common Pushback — Debunked

"You can't cancel because we already started work." False. The Rule applies regardless of work status.

"We only do cancellations by phone." False. Written notice is required.

"There's a cancellation fee." Any fee within the 3-day window is unlawful.

"The rule doesn't apply because you invited us." False. Even initiated contacts are covered for at-home signings.

Official Sources to Check Before the Window Closes

• The FTC Cooling-Off Rule text sets the federal cancellation framework for covered sales away from the seller's permanent business location: FTC Cooling-Off Rule text.
• The FTC consumer alert warns that "free" or "no cost" solar claims and unexpected qualification forms are scam indicators: FTC consumer alert on solar scams.
• The FTC Holder Rule can matter when a solar contract was financed through a consumer-credit contract: FTC Holder Rule text.
• The CFPB complaint portal is the federal intake path for loan, servicing, credit reporting, or debt collection problems: CFPB complaint portal.

FAQ

Can I cancel if I signed at a trade show?

Possibly. The Rule applies to sales at temporary locations not the seller's permanent business place.

What if I signed digitally on a tablet?

Same rules. Electronic signatures do not waive cancellation rights.

What about third-party financing?

When you cancel, the contractor must notify the lender, and the loan should be voided. If the lender refuses, you may have claims under the FTC's Holder Rule and TILA.

Got blindsided by a solar deal that did not deliver?

You may have a claim — and the law may make the company that defrauded you pay your legal fees. Our 2-minute eligibility check screens for the consumer-protection statutes that apply to your situation (TILA § 130, the FTC Holder Rule, your state UDAP) and connects you with a consumer-protection attorney in our network if you qualify. Use the eligibility form to route your facts through the right intake path.

Start the eligibility review →