Cooling-Off Period

An interval of time during which no action of a specific type can be taken by either side in a dispute. An automatic delay in certain jurisdictions, apart from ordinary court delays, between the time when Divorce papers are filed and the divorce hearing takes place. An amount of time within which a buyer is permitted to cancel a contract for the purchase of consumer goods—designed to effect Consumer Protection. A number of states require that a three-day cancellation period must be allowed purchasers following door-to-door sales.

A cooling-off period is frequently used in labor disputes. There might, for example, be a period of one month following the filing of a grievance by a union or company against the other, during which neither the union nor the company is allowed to take retaliatory actions against each other.

cooling-off period

a time during which a person can withdraw from a binding contract without any serious penalty. A cooling-off period is not normally available. Such provisions can be found in relation to CANCELLATION of consumer credit contracts, TIMESHARE contracts and DISTANCE SELLING contracts among others.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

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References in periodicals archive

Earlier in the day, the Apex Court had amended the draft constitution proposed by the BCCI, in which it made changes in the cooling-off period of the Board's officials.

SC order dilutes Lodha committee report: Justice Mudgal

The ethics commission's ruling on Buckley only deals directly with whether the cooling-off period applies to lawmakers who might lobby as public agency employees.

Lobbying decision draws rebuke

The reasoning behind a cooling-off period is that the longer a former legislator is out of office, the fewer former colleagues will be in the statehouse upon his or her return.

Yes, no, maybe so: what's wrong with becoming a lobbyist after leaving the legislature?

The client should notify the BSFI in writing about his intention to terminate the agreement within the cooling-off period. The client shall shoulder only reasonable amount of processing or administrative fees plus any mark to market costs from the signing of the contract up to its cancellation.

BSP advises public about its right to "cooling-off"

"When you buy online, you are given a cooling-off period of 14 days after you receive the product.

Christmas present web protection

THE OPTICAL Confederation (OC) has released updated guidance regarding the cooling-off period relating to distance and off-premises contracts.

OC releases guidance on 'cooling-off' period

In February, the SCA pilots voted nearly unanimously to authorize ALPA to call a legal strike if necessary, upon a release from mediation by the National Mediation Board and the expiration of a cooling-off period.

Southwest Pilots support better contract for Sun Country pilots

Laurie, 16 MANY of us jump from relationship to relationship without a cooling-off period. Your sister is getting involved with the first person who comes along and this will make her unavailable when the right one does show up.

Sister's been with boy two weeks and wants to wed

PAXTON -- One week after the fire chief suggested the town dump ambulance service from the private Spencer Rescue Squad, selectmen voted to go ahead and negotiate a new contract with the squad -- but only after a cooling-off period.

Town to negotiate with Spencer rescue

On 9 March 2012 the AFA asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to declare that negotiations were at an impasse and asked for a proffer of arbitration, this is a required step before a 30-day cooling-off period, during which negotiations typically take place and lead to an agreement or a strike.

Spirit flight attendants prepare to strike

The report includes a ban on second jobs involving lobbying, a strengthening of financial declarations and the definition of conflicts of interest but sanctions remain weak and no compulsory legislative footprint or cooling-off period is foreseen (see Europolitics 4234).

MEP CODE OF CONDUCT ENDORSED BY CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS