SELLING RULES

Door-to-door sales rules in Ireland: what reps must tell customers

Door-to-door selling is legal in Ireland, but a doorstep sale comes with obligations that a shop sale doesn't. Get them wrong and a customer can cancel for up to a year. Here is what the law requires, in plain terms, for reps selling to householders.
Last checked against official sources: 13 September 2026 (CCPC)
The three things to get right on every doorstep
Give the required information on paper before the customer agrees. Tell them clearly about their 30-day right to cancel and how to use it. Leave them a copy of the signed contract or a written confirmation.

Which law covers doorstep sales

Sales to consumers away from your business premises are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2022, which became law on 29 November 2022. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) enforces it and publishes guidance for traders.
The Act calls these off-premises contracts: contracts agreed while you and the customer are physically together somewhere other than your business premises. That covers a sale on the doorstep or in the customer’s home or workplace, and a sale on a trip or event you organised.

What you must tell the customer before they agree

Before the customer is bound by the contract, you have to give them clear information, including:
  • Your business name, address and phone number, plus your email address and any online contact channels
  • What you are selling — the main characteristics of the goods or service
  • The total price including VAT, and any extra charges
  • How payment works, and delivery or performance arrangements
  • Their right to cancel, how long they have, and how to do it
For doorstep sales this information must be given on paper, unless the customer agrees to another durable format such as email. A verbal run-through on the doorstep is not enough.
The detailed information requirements do not apply to off-premises contracts under €50.

The 30-day right to cancel

A customer who buys on their doorstep can cancel within 30 days without giving a reason. That is longer than the 14 days most people know from online shopping, and it catches reps out.
  • For services, the 30 days generally run from the day the contract is agreed.
  • For goods, they generally run from when the customer receives the goods.
  • If you don’t tell them about the right to cancel, the cancellation period is extended by 12 months from when it would otherwise have ended.
  • Refunds are due within 14 days of cancellation, using the original payment method unless agreed otherwise. Customers returning goods have a further 14 days to send them back.
Some things are excluded from the right to cancel, including personalised or made-to-order goods, sealed goods that can’t be returned for health or hygiene reasons, and services like transport, accommodation or leisure activities booked for a specific date.

After the sale

Give the customer a copy of the signed contract or a confirmation within a reasonable time, on paper unless they have agreed to another format. That copy is also your proof, months later, that the information was given.

A doorstep checklist for reps

  • 1.
    Introduce yourself and the company you represent, and have ID ready.
  • 2.
    Explain the offer and the full price including VAT before asking for a decision.
  • 3.
    Hand over the written pre-contract information — don’t just say it.
  • 4.
    Point out the 30-day cancellation right and show them the cancellation form or instructions.
  • 5.
    Leave a copy of the signed contract or written confirmation.
  • 6.
    Log the visit, the date and what was agreed as soon as you are back in the car.
  • 7.
    If someone asks you not to call again, record it and respect it.
Step six is where most disputes are won or lost. A dated note made on the day is far more credible than a memory. Our free lead tracker template gives you a place for it, and Chase a Lead does it on your phone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cooling-off period for door-to-door sales in Ireland?

For contracts made on a doorstep or in a customer’s home, the customer can cancel within 30 days — longer than the 14 days that applies to online and phone sales. If they are not told about their right to cancel, it is extended by up to 12 months.

Is door-to-door selling legal in Ireland?

Yes, door-to-door selling is legal in Ireland. Consumer law controls how you do it — what you must tell the customer, in what form, and their right to cancel — rather than banning it.

Is there a minimum value before the rules apply?

The detailed pre-contract information requirements do not apply to off-premises contracts under €50. Keep in mind that the value is the total price, not a single instalment.

Do the rules apply when I sell to businesses?

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 protects consumers — people buying for personal use. Selling to a business on its own premises is a business-to-business sale and these consumer doorstep rules do not apply in the same way, although your contract terms still matter.

How quickly do I have to refund a customer who cancels?

Refunds must be made within 14 days, using the same payment method unless the customer agrees otherwise. When goods are involved, the customer has a further 14 days after cancelling to send them back.
This guide is general information about Irish consumer law, not legal advice. Your company’s contract and compliance team should confirm the exact wording and forms you use.
Sources
CCPC — Buying online, over the phone, or on your doorstepCCPC — Guidelines for business: servicesCCPC — Selling services: your legal obligationsIrish Statute Book — Consumer Rights Act 2022

A record of every visit, made on the day

Log every doorstep, what was agreed and when to follow up — on your phone, before you reach the next house.
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Free sales lead tracker template
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