Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Distance contract definition

What does Distance contract mean? A distance contract is a contract between a trader and a consumer (i.e., B2C) formed without any face‑to‑face meeting, typically via a website, app, telephone or email, as part of an organised distance‑selling or service‑provision scheme. The term is defined in UK law 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 (as amended), implementing the EU Consumer Rights Directive. Key elements are: - no simultaneous physical presence of trader and consumer; and - exclusive use of one or more means of distance...

Distance consumer retainers: law firm duties under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013—scope, required information, electronic/telephone requirements, post-contract confirmation, cancellation and helpline charges

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Practice notes

The consumer contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (Consumer Contracts Regs 2013), SI 2013/3134 apply when you agree a retainer with a consumer client you have not met, commonly termed a distance contract. This Practice Note outlines:

when the regulations are engaged in relation to distance contracts
when your client has cancellation rights, and
how to meet the regulatory requirements

The Consumer Contracts Regs 2013 also extend to situations where you meet the client away from your office before entering into a retainer (often called an off‑premises contract). For further detail, see Practice Note: Off–premises contracts—law firms.

The flowchart below will help you determine whether:

the regulations apply at all and, if so
which parts of the regulations you must follow, ie provisions for off‑premises or distance contracts

Which clients do the regulations apply to?

To benefit from cancellation rights under the regulations, your client must be an individual acting for purposes wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

What is a distance contract?

A distance contract is one that is:

concluded under an organised

...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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