A provision of the Wisconsin Consumer Act grants Wisconsin citizens the right to cancel certain consumer transactions within three business days. This provision applies to any consumer transactions involving the extension of credit. It also applies to cash transactions of $25 or more. Some companies request a partial cash payment of $24.99. However, if the total transaction is $25 or more, the company must still provide the right to cancel.

The three-day right to cancel applies to transactions initiated through face-to-face contact (for instance, a door-to-door seller) away from the seller's regular place of business. It also applies to mail or telephone solicitations directed to a particular customer. The transaction must also be consummated away from the seller's regular place of business. The law requires the seller to give you two copies of a notice setting forth your rights. Wisconsin law requires that the notice be in a specific format, unless the company uses a form permitted by the federal right to cancel law, modified to comply with our state law. The Wisconsin notice looks like this:

The cancellation must be in writing. Use one of the two copies of the notice of your right to cancel and write on it, "I hereby cancel this contract." Mail it to the seller. The notice must be sent to the seller by midnight of the third business day after the seller has given you the notice. You can also send a letter, telegram, or other correspondence indicating your intention to cancel.
Within ten days, the seller must refund all payments made by you and cancel any contract signed by you. You are not liable for any finance or other charges and the transaction is void.

The seller must return any property traded in by you within 20 days. If the seller has delivered any property to you, you may keep it until the seller has returned the down payment. At that time, you must make the property available to the seller. If the property isn't picked up within 20 days after you have made it available, you are entitled to keep the property without any obligation to pay for it.

For more information contact the Division of Consumer Protection at 800-422-7128 or file a complaint.