BCOBS 6

Cancellation

BCOBS 6.1

The right to cancel

Introduction

BCOBS 6.1.1

See Notes

handbook-rule

Except as provided for in BCOBS 6.1.2 R, a banking customer has a right to cancel a contract for a retail banking service (including a cash deposit ISA) without penalty and without giving any reason, within 14 calendar days.

[Note: article 6(1) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]

BCOBS 6.1.2

See Notes

handbook-rule

There is no right to cancel:

  1. (1) a contract (other than a cash deposit ISA) where the rate or rates of interest payable on the deposit are fixed for a period of time following conclusion of the contract;
  2. (2) a contract whose price depends on fluctuations in the financial market outside the firm's control that may occur during the cancellation period; or
  3. (3) a cash deposit CTF (other than a distance contract).

BCOBS 6.1.3

See Notes

handbook-guidance
A firm may provide longer or additional cancellation rights voluntarily but, if it does, these should be on terms at least as favourable to the banking customer as those in this chapter, unless the differences are clearly explained.

Beginning of cancellation period

BCOBS 6.1.4

See Notes

handbook-rule

The cancellation period begins:

  1. (1) either from the day of the conclusion of the contract for the retail banking service; or
  2. (2) from the day on which the banking customer receives the contractual terms and conditions of the retail banking service and any other pre-contractual information required under this sourcebook, if that is later than the date referred to in (1) above.
  3. [Note: article 6(1) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]

Disclosing the right to cancel

BCOBS 6.1.5

See Notes

handbook-rule
  1. (1) The firm must disclose to a banking customer in good time or, if that is not possible, immediately after the banking customer is bound by a contract for a retail banking service, and in a durable medium, the existence of the right to cancel, its duration and the conditions for exercising it including information on the amount which the banking customer may be required to pay, the consequences of not exercising it and practical instructions for exercising it, indicating the address to which the notification of cancellation should be sent.
  2. (2) This rule applies only where a banking customer would not otherwise receive the information referred to in (1) under a rule in this sourcebook from the firm (such as under BCOBS 3.1.2 R to 3.1.5 R (the distance marketing disclosure rules)).

BCOBS 6.2

Exercising the right to cancel

BCOBS 6.2.1

See Notes

handbook-rule

If a banking customer exercises his right to cancel he must, before the expiry of the cancellation period, notify this following the practical instructions given to him. The deadline shall be deemed to have been observed if the notification, if in a durable medium available and accessible to the recipient, is dispatched before the cancellation period expires.

[Note: article 6(6) of the Distance Marketing Directive for distance contracts]

BCOBS 6.2.2

See Notes

handbook-guidance
The firm should accept any indication that the banking customer wishes to cancel as long as it satisfies the conditions for notification. In the event of any dispute, unless there is clear written evidence to the contrary, the firm should treat the date cited by the banking customer as the date when the notification was dispatched.

Record keeping

BCOBS 6.2.3

See Notes

handbook-rule
The firm must make adequate records concerning the exercise of a right to cancel and retain them for at least three years.

BCOBS 6.3

Effects of cancellation

BCOBS 6.3.1

See Notes

handbook-rule
By exercising a right to cancel, a banking customer withdraws from the contract and the contract is terminated.

Payment for the service provided before cancellation

BCOBS 6.3.2

See Notes

handbook-rule
  1. (1) This rule applies in relation to a contract for a retail banking service that is not a cash deposit ISA or a cash deposit CTF.
  2. (2) When a banking customer exercises the right to cancel he may only be required to pay, without any undue delay, for the service actually provided by the firm in accordance with the contract. The amount payable must not:
    1. (a) exceed an amount which is in proportion to the extent of the service already provided in comparison with the full coverage of the contract;
    2. (b) in any case be such that it could be construed as a penalty.
  3. [Note: article 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]
  4. (3) The firm may not require a banking customer to pay any amount on the basis of this rule unless it can prove that the banking customer was duly informed about the amount payable and, in the case of a contract which is a distance contract, in conformity with the distance marketing disclosure rules. However, in no case may the firm require such payment if it has commenced the performance of the contract before expiry of the cancellation period without the banking customer's prior request.
  5. [Note: article 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]

BCOBS 6.4

Obligations on cancellation

Firm's obligation

BCOBS 6.4.1

See Notes

handbook-rule

The firm must, without undue delay and within 30 calendar days, return to the banking customer any sums it has received from him except for any amount that the banking customer may be required to pay under BCOBS 6.3.2 R. This period begins from the day on which the firm receives the notification of cancellation.

[Note: article 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]

Banking customer's obligation

BCOBS 6.4.2

See Notes

handbook-rule

The firm is entitled to receive from the banking customer any sums or property he has received from the firm without any undue delay and no later than within 30 calendar days. This period begins from the day on which the banking customer dispatches the notification of cancellation.

[Note: article 7(5) of the Distance Marketing Directive in relation to distance contracts]

BCOBS 6.4.3

See Notes

handbook-rule
Any sums payable under this section on cancellation of a contract are owed as simple contract debts and may be set off against each other.

BCOBS 6.5

Other applicable legislation

BCOBS 6.5.1

See Notes

handbook-rule
This chapter applies as modified to the extent necessary for it to be compatible with any enactment, including legislation relating to child trust funds.