Get consent before digital content or a service starts early

How to do it

Under the Consumer Rights Directive, the right of withdrawal ends once digital content starts, but only with this request and acknowledgement. Without them, a consumer can download, then withdraw and get every payment back. A service started early on request can still be withdrawn from. The consumer then pays for the part already provided. Once the service is fully provided, the right ends if the consumer acknowledged that. Put an unticked checkbox beside the pay button, apart from the terms. Use words such as "Start my access now. I understand I lose my right of withdrawal once it starts." Store the wording version and time on the order. Send the confirmation by email before delivery or before the service starts. If the withdrawal information is missing, the period extends from 14 days by up to 12 more months. Refunds follow Refund EU withdrawals within 14 days, and the withdrawal itself follows Add the EU withdrawal button.

Examples

JavaScript example

const EARLY_START_WORDING = 'early-start-v2'

function recordEarlyStart(order, startNowTicked, now) {
  if (!startNowTicked) return { ...order, accessFrom: order.withdrawalEndsAt }
  return { ...order, accessFrom: now, earlyStartConsent: { wording: EARLY_START_WORDING, at: now } }
}

Python example

EARLY_START_WORDING = "early-start-v2"

def record_early_start(order, start_now_ticked, now):
    if not start_now_ticked:
        return order | {"access_from": order["withdrawal_ends_at"]}
    return order | {"access_from": now,
                    "early_start_consent": {"wording": EARLY_START_WORDING, "at": now}}

How to check

A browser test buys a digital product as an EU consumer without ticking the start-now box. It gets no download or access until the withdrawal period ends. A second purchase with the box ticked gets access at once. Its order stores the wording version and time, and its confirmation email contains the consent sentence. The box starts unticked.

Sources

• Your Europe, e-commerce and distance selling
• Your Europe, returns and the right of withdrawal

Related rules

• Refund EU withdrawals within 14 days in Payments
• Add the EU withdrawal button in Payments