A contract over $100 does not automatically have 10 days to cancel under the unsolicited-sale rule: if it is an unsolicited consumer agreement, Consumer and Business Services (CBS) says it must be in writing and the consumer has a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel, with the business unable to supply goods or services or take payment during those 10 days except in very limited cases (figures checked 1 October 2026). An uninvited door knock or telephone offer can qualify, while a repair job you arrange yourself or a later telephone call accepting a quote is not an unsolicited sale under CBS’s examples.
What do unsolicited door and telephone approaches look like?
CBS gives two examples of an uninvited approach involving an offer to sell goods or services:
- At the door: A tradesperson you did not invite offers to supply and install solar panels.
- By telephone: A tradesperson calls without invitation and offers to surface your driveway.
The contact does not have to involve work you had already requested. A sale may be unsolicited because the supplier approached you and offered to sell something.
When does agreeing to a quote or extra work count?
The distinction turns on why the tradesperson contacted you and when you entered the contract.
| What happens | Treatment under CBS’s guidance |
|---|---|
| A tradesperson visits after you invited them only to provide a quote, and you enter into a contract while receiving that quote | The sale is unsolicited |
| During a home visit, the tradesperson offers additional work, provides a new quote, and you agree to that extra work at the time | The contract for the additional work is an unsolicited consumer agreement |
| You call a tradesperson to carry out repairs | The sale is not considered unsolicited |
| After receiving a quote, you later call the tradesperson and confirm that you want to proceed | The sale is not considered unsolicited |
A quote-only invitation therefore does not automatically prevent an agreement made during the visit from being unsolicited. By contrast, when the quote is left and you initiate a later call to accept it, CBS gives that as an example outside the unsolicited-sale definition.
What rights apply when the contract is over $100?
| Issue | Rule stated by CBS |
|---|---|
| Contract amount | The quoted unsolicited-sale rule applies when the contract is over $100 |
| Written terms | The contract must be in writing |
| Cancellation | The consumer has a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel |
| Goods, services and payment | During those 10 days, the business must not supply goods or services or take payment, except in very limited cases |
The guidance says “over $100”, rather than $100 or more. It does not state that a contract of exactly $100 is covered by this particular rule.
The limited exceptions to the supply and payment restriction are not identified in the cited passage. An urgent-sounding request or a request for a deposit should not be treated as proof that an exception applies; check the current regulator guidance before agreeing.
How should I respond to pressure to agree on the spot?
CBS says most tradespeople in South Australia do the right thing, but it warns about uninvited approaches, unnecessary upselling, threatening behaviour and limited-time pricing. Some companies may also send a salesperson rather than a tradesperson to inspect an issue and provide a quote.
If a company pressures you to agree to work immediately, be firm and politely say no. Do not let a limited-time price or an exaggerated claim that extra work is necessary replace the time needed to check the contract and compare options.
What checks can I make before hiring?
- Seek advice or quotes from at least three different tradespeople. CBS says this helps identify the required tasks and whether suggested work is unnecessary.
- Check that each quote is itemised and fixed. Compare the total cost rather than focusing only on a low call-out fee.
- Check the licence. Every builder and tradesperson must display their licence number in advertising, including on social media, websites and business cards. Search the CBS licensing register to see which business or trading names are connected with it.
- Confirm that three apparent businesses are genuinely different. Some companies trade under multiple names, so separate-looking quotes may come from the same company or the same owner.
- Check the full contract. The amount requested should match the quote or contract, and the tradesperson must provide proof of purchase, such as a receipt.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current CBS regulator page before relying on a cooling-off rule. If the decision also concerns electrician insurance, check the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement separately; it does not replace advice about consumer rights.
Sources
FAQ
Does every electrical contract over $100 have 10 days to cancel?
No. The 10-day rule described by CBS applies when the contract is an unsolicited consumer agreement and its value is over $100. The price alone does not trigger the rule.
Can a quote appointment still be an unsolicited sale?
Yes. If you invite a tradesperson only to provide a quote but enter into the contract while receiving it, CBS treats the sale as unsolicited. If you instead call later to accept the quote after receiving it, that is an excluded scenario in CBS’s examples.
Can the business start work or take payment during the 10 days?
Under the rule quoted by CBS, the business must not supply goods or services or take payment during the 10-day cooling-off period, except in very limited cases. The cited passage does not identify those exceptions.
Does agreeing to extra work during the visit count?
Yes. If the tradesperson offers additional work at your home, provides a quote for it and you agree at that time, CBS says the contract relating to the additional work is an unsolicited consumer agreement.
Partner links. Using them costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission.