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Withdrawal period meaning

What does Withdrawal period mean?
The period in which a consumer can cancel a qualifying contract without giving reasons and obtain a refund, often called the cancellation or cooling-off period. In UK practice (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) it is defined for distance and off‑premises (including doorstep) contracts by the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, and in Ireland by the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013. The period is generally 14 days: from delivery of goods (or the last item in a multiple delivery), or from contract conclusion for services and digital content. It is extended (up to 12 months) if the trader fails to give the required pre‑contract cancellation information. Key features include trader refund duties within 14 days of cancellation (and, for goods, receipt of the return or evidence of sending), potential liability for return costs if disclosed, and deductions for diminished value from handling beyond what is necessary to assess the goods. Common exclusions include bespoke or perishable goods, urgent repairs, unsealed health/hygiene goods, newspapers, dated leisure services, and digital content once supply starts with express consent. Separate withdrawal periods apply to financial services (for example, under the UK Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations...
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View the related Checklists about Withdrawal period

CHECKLISTS
Easements in property transactions: due diligence checklist on identification, registration, scope, maintenance, interference, alteration/termination, utilities, and creation/reservation—England and Wales

ARCHIVED: This Flowchart has been archived and is not maintained. Retained EU law is a concept introduced by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EU(W)A 2018) as part of Brexit preparations, establishing a new category of domestic legislation. It denotes the collection of EU‑derived rules preserved and converted into UK law under the EU(W)A 2018 (as amended) at the end of the post‑Brexit transition period (IP completion day). For background on the transition period, and what it means for retained EU law, see: In the context of Brexit, what is meant by the ‘transition or implementation period’? For further background reading on the underlying legislation, see: Practice Note: Brexit—key legislation explained News Analysis: What does IP completion day mean for the status of EU law in the UK? What is retained EU law? Retained EU law is a broad, complex legal term defined by the EU(W)A 2018. It covers anything that continues to form part of domestic law on or...

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CHECKLISTS
Brexit: checklist for drafting and negotiating dispute resolution clauses—applicable law, jurisdiction, enforcement, service of documents and arbitration (Rome I/II, Brussels Recast, Hague/Lugano) for cross-border commercial contracts

ARCHIVED: This Checklist has been archived and is no longer maintained. For up-to-date guidance, please refer to: Governing law and jurisdiction clauses in commercial contracts―checklist. Brexit: As of exit day (11pm on 31 January 2020) the UK is no longer an EU Member State. However, in line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK entered an implementation period, during which it continues to be subject to EU law. This affects this Checklist. For further guidance, see Brexit Bulletin—key updates, research tips and resources, and the Brexit collection. This Checklist assesses the implications of Brexit for drafting and negotiating dispute resolution clauses. It looks at the position regarding: Applicable law clauses (also referred to as governing law clauses or choice of law clauses) Jurisdiction clauses The enforcement of judgments The service of documents...

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CHECKLISTS
UK post-Brexit finance documentation checklist: facility agreements, security, loss of passporting rights, retained EU law, benchmarks, tax, sanctions, COMI, IFRS, BRRD, governing law, jurisdiction, insolvency and IP

Checklist (Archived) This Checklist sets out key checks for facility and security documentation after the Brexit implementation period. ARCHIVED: This Checklist has been archived and is not maintained. When that period ended, EU law was transposed into UK law as retained EU law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), in most cases with only minor adjustments. See Practice Note: Retained EU law and assimilated law. Read this alongside Practice Notes: Brexit—documentary implications for facility agreements [Archived] and Brexit—impact on finance transactions [Archived]. The focus is on documentary issues and it does not capture every potential consideration for finance transactions following the end of the implementation period. For a fuller overview, see Practice Notes: What does IP completion day mean for lending lawyers? [Archived] and Brexit—impact on finance transactions [Archived]. Loss of passporting rights Issue: Loss of passporting rights Question: There is an EU27 borrower under the facilities agreement. What steps should be...

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NEWS
UKSC in Simkova: Universal Credit child element not a family benefit under Regulation 883/2004; inseverable from UC; no CJEU reference under the Withdrawal Agreement

Simkova v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 41 What are the practical implications of this case? First, it is settled that EU nationals living in the UK, whose children reside in an EU member state, cannot receive the Universal Credit child element for those children. This holds even where the parent pays towards the children’s maintenance and support, notwithstanding the realities of cross‑border family life. Second, the judgment shows the courts continue to grapple with dense EU law even after Brexit, specifically in areas where the UK‑EU Withdrawal Agreement preserves direct effect. It underscores the ongoing need to interpret and apply those preserved rules when they bear on disputes arising in the domestic benefits system, for cases such as this. Third, this appeal did not give the Supreme Court an opportunity to define the scope of its discretion to seek a CJEU ruling on a question under Part Two of the Agreement concerning citizens’ rights. That discretion applies only to proceedings...

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NEWS
UK Public Law update: Brexit/Windsor Framework implementation, new SIs, constitutional scrutiny, subsidy control/State aid, and recent judicial review and equality decisions—week ending 24 October 2024

In this issue: Brexit highlights Post-Brexit transition guidelines Brexit SIs Constitutional and administrative law Subsidy control and State Aid Judicial review Equality and human rights Other Public law news Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers New and updated content Useful information Brexit highlights EAC sets out recommendations on future of UK-EU data adequacy The House of Lords European Affairs Committee (EAC) has issued a letter to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, summarising the principal conclusions and recommendations from its inquiry into UK‑EU data adequacy. It found that the loss of EU data adequacy in June 2025 would bring substantial costs and added administrative burdens for businesses and organisations, create obstacles to international trade and economic co‑operation, and detrimentally affect Northern Ireland under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework Agreement. The EAC therefore advises that the government engage with...

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NEWS
EU cross‑sector legal and regulatory updates: infringement package, consultations, Parliament positions, and developments in financial services, energy, environment, life sciences and AI (9 October 2025)

In this issue: EU fundamentals Commercial Competition and state aid Corporate Free movement, immigration and employment Financial services Energy Environment Life sciences Regulatory TMT Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers EU fundamentals European Commission releases October 2025 infringement package The European Commission has unveiled its October 2025 infringement package, identifying the EU Member States facing proceedings for breaches of obligations arising under EU law. The dossier covers letters of formal notice, reasoned opinions, and referrals to the Court of Justice addressed to Belgium, Malta, Estonia, Austria, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands and a number of additional countries. Actions relate to multiple instruments and rules, notably Directive 1999/31/EC (Landfill Directive), Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (Drinking Water Directive), and Directive 2011/92/EU (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive), among related matters. See: LNB News 08/10/2025 39. ...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK post-Brexit payments and e-money: retained EU law, statutory instruments and onshoring changes—status guide to 2EMD, CBPR/SEPA, PAD, PSD2, IFR

Brexit Financial Services Legislation Status Guide This guide outlines high-level information on the status of EU laws regulating the payments sector, namely: the second Electronic Money Directive (Directive 2009/110/EC) (2EMD) the Cross-Border Payments Regulation (Regulation (EC) 924/2009) (CBPR) as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/518 (CBPR2) the Regulation establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro and amending the CBPR (Regulation (EU) 260/2012) (SEPA Regulation) the Payment Accounts Directive (Directive 2014/92/EU) (PAD) the recast Payment Services Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/2366) (PSD2) the Interchange Fee Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2015/751) (IFR) This Practice Note should be read alongside the following Practice Notes: Impact of Brexit: Payment services and electronic money directives—quick guide [Archived] Impact of Brexit: SEPA Regulation—quick guide [Archived] Impact of Brexit: Payment accounts—quick guide [Archived] Impact of Brexit: Interchange Fee Regulation—quick guide [Archived] During the implementation period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK post-Brexit e-commerce in financial services: E-Commerce Exit Regulations 2019, revocation of RAO Article 72A, run-off regimes, TPR/FSCR, and FCA temporary transitional powers - quick guide

This quick guide to e-commerce and financial services outlines current UK law and retained EU law on financial services e-commerce obligations that were changed and/or cancelled by the Electronic Commerce and Solvency 2 (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/1361 (the E-Commerce Exit Regulations), together with other measures made at the end of the implementation period after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The summary below explains the Brexit arrangements for onshoring EU rules applicable to e-commerce financial services providers following Brexit. Overview of onshored and preserved EU-derived law post-IP completion day The E-Commerce Exit Regulations 2019 were laid on 25 March 2019. They sit within HM Treasury’s programme of statutory instruments under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 EU(W)A 2018, addressing contingency planning for a ‘no deal’ Brexit. These Regulations contribute to domesticating EU law so that legal continuity is maintained at the moment the UK leaves the EU. EU(W)A 2018 ‘onshores’ and keeps in force most EU and EU-derived legislation as it existed immediately before...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK ECM: Prospectus requirements under the archived EU Prospectus Directive—offers to the public, admissions to regulated markets, exemptions, supplementary prospectuses and Brexit passporting changes

STOP PRESS: On 21 July 2019, Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 became fully effective across EU member states, and the Prospectus Directive was repealed. The Regulation now sets out when a prospectus must be published for an offer of securities to the public in the UK, or for the admission of securities to trading on a regulated market in the UK. To reflect this, the FCA has brought the FCA Handbook into line with the Regulation by removing the Prospectus Rules in their entirety and substituting the Prospectus Regulation Rules sourcebook. For more detail, see Practice Note: The UK Prospectus Regulation—essentials [Archived] and The UK Prospectus Regulation—is a prospectus required? [Archived]. ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note is not maintained and is provided for background purposes only. Further information is available in Practice Note: The UK Prospectus Regulation—essentials [Archived]. This Practice Note examines, under the previous Prospectus Directive framework, when a prospectus had to be published for an offer of securities to the public in the UK or for admission...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent letter to defendant on claimant CPR Part 36 whole-claim offer (made at least 21 days before trial)—acceptance, withdrawal/variation, Relevant Period and costs (England and Wales)

Note: This precedent does not include CPR 36 provisions that concern fixed costs cases specifically. For details on Part 36 offers in fixed costs matters, see Practice Notes: Part 36 offers—fixed costs (position prior to 1 October 2023) and Part 36 offers—fixed costs (position on or after 1 October 2023). Private & confidential [ insert name and address of addressee ] [ insert date ] Dear [ insert name of client: defendant ] [ insert case heading ] As discussed [ insert when you had the discussion ], I have received a Part 36 settlement proposal from [ insert name of claimant ], and enclose a copy. To help you decide whether to accept, I outline below what a Part 36 offer is, what the claimant is proposing, and the implications of accepting or refusing this offer. [ Once you have reviewed this letter, please contact me promptly so we can talk it through and assist you in deciding how to respond to...

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PRECEDENTS
COFA Monthly SRA Accounts Rules Breach Monitoring Record and Action Plan (England and Wales)

A: Introduction Date of monitoring review Person carrying out the review B: Consolidated data Periods: last [insert period] and last 12 months Suspected Accounts Rules breaches reported to the COFA Total breaches (serious and non‑serious) Serious breaches Reported to the SRA; if not same as “serious”, explain C: Data by compliance breach category Client money: non‑permitted use Client money: paid into office account Client money: wrongly withheld from client account Client account: incorrect withdrawal Client money: delay paying in Client money: not paid to client promptly/at all Client account: incorrect receipt Client account: other breach Interest policy breach Accounting records: office account Accounting records: client account Cheque/Bacs: incorrect signatory Bill of costs: miscalculation Accountant’s report Office account breach Other D: Conclusions from monitoring review Breach register current? Yes/No; if...

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PRECEDENTS
Archived: England and Wales CPR 11/N244 applications to stay or decline jurisdiction under Article 30 Brussels I (recast) for related EU proceedings begun by 31 December 2020

ARCHIVED This Precedent is archived and no longer maintained. It, together with its drafting notes, may still be used for proceedings begun in the courts of England and Wales at any time, provided the related case in an EU Member State court was issued on or before 31 December 2020 and the transitional jurisdiction provisions in Articles 67 or 69 of the Withdrawal Agreement are satisfied. For guidance on whether Brussels I (recast) applies, see Practice Note: Brussels I (recast)—application to the UK post IP completion day (jurisdiction) [Archived]. Related precedents For a supporting witness statement, see Precedent: Witness statement in support of application for stay under art 30 of recast Brussels Regulation. For draft orders, see: Court order for an application to stay proceedings under art 30(1) of Brussels I (recast) or Court order for an application to stay proceedings under art 30(2) of Brussels I (recast). General points The application should be brought within the period allowed by...

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Q&As
Brexit: Passporting and Equivalence Impact on UK Insurance Sector

BREXIT At 11pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020—known as ‘IP completion day’—the transition/implementation period entered into following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU came to a close. From that point onwards, key transitional arrangements came to an end and wide‑ranging changes started to take effect across the UK’s legal regime. This document provides guidance on subjects affected by these changes. Before continuing your research, see: Brexit and financial services: materials on the post‑Brexit UK/EU regulatory regime [Archived]. This Q&A assesses the impact of Brexit on passporting in the insurance sector, outlines the options available to insurers to continue to access the European Economic Areas (EEA), and highlights the factors for insurers to take into account in their contingency planning. This Q&A is produced in partnership with Clare Swirski at Clifford Chance. What are the main aspects of passporting under Solvency II?...

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