Unsolicited Consumer Agreements in Australia (2026)
About this article
Sourced from Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and court decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
Compare by state
Statute citations are verified per state. Select a state to jump to its full section below.
| Primary statute | |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) |
| Queensland | Australian Consumer Law (Cth), Part 3-2, Div 2 — unsolicited agreements |
| South Australia | Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) — unsolicited consumer agreements |
| Tasmania | Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2, Part 3-2 — unsolicited agreements |
| Victoria | Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic) |
| Western Australia | Australian Consumer Law (Cth), Part 3-2, Div 2 — unsolicited agreements |
What is this right?
An unsolicited consumer agreement — one negotiated at your door, over the phone, or anywhere other than the supplier's business premises, without you having invited the contact — carries a 10-business-day cooling-off period. You can cancel within it for any reason and without penalty. The period is longer, up to 3 or 6 months, where the salesperson broke the rules that apply to unsolicited selling.
When does it apply?
- The contact was unsolicited. A salesperson approached you at your door, by phone, or in a public place without you having asked them to.
- The agreement is worth more than $100, or its total price could not be worked out when it was made.
- It was negotiated away from the supplier's premises — the rules do not apply to a purchase you made by walking into a shop.
What to Do If You Signed an Unsolicited Door-to-Door or Telemarketing Agreement in Australia
- Cancel within the cooling-off period. You have 10 business days from the first business day after signing or receiving the agreement, and no reason is needed. Put it in writing and keep a dated copy.
- Check whether the period was extended. If the salesperson broke the timing or disclosure rules, you may have 3 or 6 months instead.
- Return the goods or tell the supplier where to collect them. If the supplier does not collect within 30 days, the goods become yours.
- Ask for your money back. The supplier must refund what you paid once you cancel — chase it in writing if it does not arrive.
- Report breaches to the ACCC or your state or territory consumer affairs agency, especially where the salesperson ignored a Do Not Knock sign or called outside permitted hours.
Generate a formal legal letter to support your rights using our Legal Letter Generator.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't let the cooling-off period lapse. The right to cancel without giving a reason is time-limited, so act while it is open.
- Don't pay during the cooling-off period. A supplier must not request or accept payment in those 10 business days, and doing so extends your right to cancel.
- Don't ignore a salesperson who disregards a "Do Not Knock" sign or calls outside permitted hours — record what happened, because it extends the cooling-off period and is worth reporting.
About Consumer Rights in Australia
If a product fails or a business misled you, the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) gives you automatic guarantees on most purchases up to $100,000 — repair, replacement, or refund. No contract or "no refunds" sign overrides them. The ACCC enforces bans on misleading conduct, unconscionable conduct, and unfair contract terms. For disputes, your state tribunal — NCAT, VCAT, or QCAT — is built for self-represented consumers.
Worked Examples
ScenarioA door-to-door salesperson visits your home and you sign up for a solar panel deal — then change your mind 4 business days later.
OutcomeYou're within the 10 business day cooling-off period under the ACL for unsolicited consumer agreements. You can cancel for any reason by notifying the seller (in writing is safest), and you're entitled to a full refund of anything you've paid. The seller can't charge a cancellation fee.
Verified against ACCC: 10-business-day cooling-off period for unsolicited consumer agreements, starting the first business day after signing/receipt. Educational information, not legal advice.
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What is an 'unsolicited consumer agreement'?
An agreement to buy a product or service worth more than $100 (or of unknown value), where the seller approached you uninvited — by telemarketing, door-to-door, or in a public place — and the deal was negotiated or completed away from the seller's normal place of business.
How long is the cooling-off period?
10 business days, starting the first business day after you sign or receive a copy of the agreement. If the seller broke the unsolicited-selling rules (such as not giving you the required documents), the cooling-off period extends, sometimes up to 3 or 6 months.
Can the seller charge me a cancellation fee?
No. If you cancel within the cooling-off period the seller cannot charge any cancellation, restocking, or admin fee, and they must refund anything you've paid. They must also collect any products they've delivered — at their own cost.
When can door-to-door sellers contact me?
They can only call at your home on weekdays between 9am and 6pm, or on Saturdays between 9am and 5pm — never on Sundays or public holidays. They must leave immediately when asked, and can't return for at least 30 days after that.
What is the unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door sales) right in Australia?
An unsolicited consumer agreement — one negotiated at your door, over the phone, or anywhere other than the supplier's business premises, without you having invited the contact — carries a 10-business-day cooling-off period. You can cancel within it for any reason and without penalty. The period is longer, up to 3 or 6 months, where the salesperson broke the rules that apply to unsolicited selling.
When does unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door sales) apply?
The contact was unsolicited. A salesperson approached you at your door, by phone, or in a public place without you having asked them to.The agreement is worth more than $100, or its total price could not be worked out when it was made.It was negotiated away from the supplier's premises — the rules do not apply to a purchase you made by walking into a shop.
How do I cancel a door-to-door or telemarketing sales agreement in Australia?
Cancel within the cooling-off period. You have 10 business days from the first business day after signing or receiving the agreement, and no reason is needed. Put it in writing and keep a dated copy.Check whether the period was extended. If the salesperson broke the timing or disclosure rules, you may have 3 or 6 months instead.Return the goods or tell the supplier where to collect them. If the supplier does not collect within 30 days, the goods become yours.Ask for your money back. The supplier must refund what you paid once you cancel — chase it in writing if it does not arrive.Report...
What mistakes should I avoid with unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door sales)?
Don't let the cooling-off period lapse. The right to cancel without giving a reason is time-limited, so act while it is open.Don't pay during the cooling-off period. A supplier must not request or accept payment in those 10 business days, and doing so extends your right to cancel.Don't ignore a salesperson who disregards a "Do Not Knock" sign or calls outside permitted hours — record what happened, because it extends the cooling-off period and is worth reporting.
State-by-state details
New South Wales
Primary statute: Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW)
Unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door and telemarketing sales) are regulated under Part 3-2, Division 2 of the ACL. NSW Fair Trading enforces these provisions in NSW.
- A dealer who visits your home or contacts you by phone without your invitation must leave immediately if you ask them to (ACL, s 73). Failure to do so is an offence.
- Unsolicited sales agreements must be in writing, and the consumer has a 10-business-day cooling-off period during which they can cancel without penalty (ACL, s 82).
- Door-to-door sales in NSW are prohibited before 9:00 AM and after 6:00 PM on weekdays, and before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM on Saturdays. Door-to-door sales are prohibited on Sundays and public holidays (ACL, s 73(2)).
- NSW Fair Trading has taken action against aggressive door-to-door sales practices, particularly in energy retail, telecommunications, and charity collections.
Queensland
Primary statute: Australian Consumer Law (Cth), Part 3-2, Div 2 — unsolicited agreements
Unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door and telemarketing sales) are regulated under the ACL, enforced in Queensland by the Office of Fair Trading.
- A dealer who visits without invitation must leave immediately if asked. The 10-business-day cooling-off period applies to unsolicited agreements.
- Door-to-door sales in Queensland are restricted to between 9 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am and 5 pm on Saturdays. No door-to-door sales are permitted on Sundays or public holidays.
- Queensland has experienced particular issues with unsolicited sales of solar panels, energy plans, and telecommunications products in suburban and regional areas. The OFT has taken action against companies using high-pressure tactics.
- The agreement must be in writing, clearly state the 10-day cooling-off period, and include a notice of the consumer's right to terminate.
South Australia
Primary statute: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) — unsolicited consumer agreements
Full South Australia guide →Tasmania
Primary statute: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2, Part 3-2 — unsolicited agreements
Unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door sales and telemarketing) are regulated under the Australian Consumer Law, applied in Tasmania through the Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010.
- Door-to-door salespeople in Tasmania can only visit between 9am and 6pm on weekdays, and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays. No door-to-door sales are permitted on Sundays or public holidays.
- Consumers have a 10 business day cooling-off period for unsolicited consumer agreements worth more than $100. During this period, the consumer can cancel the agreement without penalty.
- The salesperson must clearly identify themselves, state the purpose of the visit, and advise the consumer of their right to terminate the agreement.
- CBOS enforces these provisions in Tasmania. Given Tasmania's smaller population, door-to-door sales compliance is an area of focus for the regulator.
Victoria
Primary statute: Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic)
Unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door and telemarketing sales) are regulated under the ACL, enforced in Victoria by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
- A dealer who visits without invitation must leave immediately if asked. The 10-business-day cooling-off period applies to unsolicited agreements.
- Prohibited calling hours apply: no door-to-door sales before 9:00 AM or after 6:00 PM on weekdays, before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM on Saturdays, and none on Sundays or public holidays.
- CAV has taken particular enforcement action against unsolicited energy retail sales practices in Victoria, where aggressive door-to-door selling by energy retailers was a significant problem. This led to the Victorian Government banning door-to-door energy sales.
- Victoria's ban on door-to-door energy sales (from 31 January 2020) prohibits energy retailers from engaging in unsolicited selling at residential premises. This ban is unique to Victoria and goes beyond the ACL requirements.
Western Australia
Primary statute: Australian Consumer Law (Cth), Part 3-2, Div 2 — unsolicited agreements
Unsolicited consumer agreements (door-to-door and telemarketing sales) are regulated under the ACL, enforced in WA by Consumer Protection WA.
- A dealer who visits without invitation must leave immediately if asked. The 10-business-day cooling-off period applies to unsolicited agreements.
- Door-to-door sales in WA are restricted to between 9 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am and 5 pm on Saturdays. No door-to-door sales on Sundays or public holidays.
- WA has experienced issues with unsolicited sales of solar panels, energy plans, and home security systems, particularly targeting elderly residents. Consumer Protection WA has taken enforcement action against companies using high-pressure tactics.
- The agreement must be in writing, clearly state the 10-day cooling-off period, and include a notice of the consumer's right to terminate.
Unsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales) in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.
- New South WalesUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)
- VictoriaUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)
- QueenslandUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)
- Western AustraliaUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)
- South AustraliaUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)
- TasmaniaUnsolicited Consumer Agreements (Door-to-Door Sales)