Where should the withdrawal button be mentioned in the T&Cs?

The mention must appear in the section relating to the right of withdrawal. It is recommended to include it just after the reminder of the 14-day period and before the procedure for exercising the right. The consumer must be able to find the information without having to dig for it: an explicit section heading ("How to exercise your right of withdrawal") and a clear sentence indicating where the button is on the website.

Is there a model clause provided by the authorities?

Neither Directive (EU) 2023/2673 nor its national transposition provides an official model clause. The trader remains free to draft it as long as the information is clear, complete and comprehensible. The standard applied is the absence of ambiguity for the average consumer.

When must the T&Cs be updated?

The updated T&Cs must be online by 19 June 2026 at the latest, the date the obligation comes into force. Putting them online early is not a problem as long as the corresponding withdrawal button is in place. The button and the T&Cs mention must come into force together to avoid contradictions.

Do existing customers have to sign the updated T&Cs?

No, for two reasons. First, pre-contractual information applies to future contracts; contracts already concluded remain governed by the T&Cs in force at their date. Second, the update is purely regulatory, it does not change the contractual balance. Simply displaying it with a last-updated date is enough.

Pre-contractual information

The withdrawal button clause in your terms and conditions (T&Cs)

Q: Do you really have to mention the withdrawal button in the T&Cs?

Yes. Under Directive (EU) 2023/2673, combined with the pre-contractual information duties of the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU), the trader must, where a withdrawal right exists, inform the consumer BEFORE the conclusion of the contract of the existence AND the location of the withdrawal button. This mention in the T&Cs is a separate obligation from the technical installation of the button. The absence of compliant pre-contractual information triggers the automatic extension of the period to 12 months and 14 days (Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 10).

Last reviewed on July 22, 2026

Do you sell online to consumers? Installing the button is not enough. EU law imposes a parallel obligation: informing the consumer, in the T&Cs, of the existence and location of the withdrawal button. Pre-contractual information is harmonised by Directive 2011/83/EU and the button by Directive (EU) 2023/2673, applicable across the 27 EU member states. Here is how to comply with the obligation in force since 19 June 2026, with a model clause to copy.

Overlooked risk: the absence of compliant pre-contractual information automatically triggers the extension of the withdrawal period to 12 months and 14 days (harmonised by Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 10). Even with a perfectly installed button, if the T&Cs do not mention it, the risk persists.

Two distinct but complementary obligations

Obligation 1

Install the button on the website

A functionality permanently accessible, labelled in Ireland « withdraw from contract here », in two clicks (entry then confirmation), with an automatic acknowledgement of receipt on a durable medium. Required by Directive (EU) 2023/2673, applicable across the EU since 19 June 2026.

Obligation 2

Inform in the T&Cs

Before the conclusion of the contract, the trader must inform the consumer of the existence AND the location of the withdrawal button. This disclosure forms part of the pre-contractual information harmonised by Directive 2011/83/EU (art. 6).

Model clause to include in your T&Cs

This model clause covers the two parallel obligations: information about the statutory period and mention of the button's location. Adapt it to your business (e-commerce, SaaS, service, etc.). Place it in the Right of withdrawal section of your T&Cs.

To copy into your T&Cs (adapt on a case-by-case basis)

Article X, Right of withdrawal

In accordance with the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) (in Ireland, the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013, S.I. No. 484/2013), the consumer customer has a period of fourteen (14) calendar days from the delivery of the goods (or from the conclusion of the contract for a service) to exercise their right of withdrawal, without having to give reasons for their decision or to bear any costs other than the return costs referred to, where applicable, in Directive 2011/83/EU (art. 14).

To exercise this right, the customer may use any of the following means: (a) the withdrawal form accessible via the online « Withdraw from the contract here » functionality, permanently available in the footer of the website [ADAPT: replace with the actual location]; (b) any other unambiguous statement expressing their wish to withdraw, sent by email to [email@example.com] or by post to [postal address].

Once the withdrawal has been recorded via the « Confirm the withdrawal » button, the customer immediately receives an acknowledgement of receipt by email on a durable medium, stating the date and time of the declaration as well as a reference number.

The trader shall refund the customer within fourteen (14) days of receiving the withdrawal, using the same means of payment as that used for the initial transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise.

Customisation required: the bracketed [ADAPT] sections must be tailored to your situation. If you have several websites or several contact channels, adjust the wording. If your products fall under a withdrawal-right exception (Directive 2011/83/EU, art. 16), mention it separately in another clause.

Free tool

Generate a customised clause in five minutes

The generator automatically fills in the [ADAPT] sections from your details (company name, company registration number, address, type of business, button location). No sign-up, ready-to-paste text.

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Where to place the button on the website?

Permanent access throughout the withdrawal period is required by Directive (EU) 2023/2673. The placements compatible with this requirement are:

•Footer of every page of the website, in the list of useful links. This is the recommended placement for a permanently accessible statutory link.
•Header permanently displayed on the site, provided the link is visible and not hidden in a collapsed hamburger menu.
•Customer account area in the immediate vicinity of the order details. Compatible but not sufficient on its own: the button must also be accessible without creating an account or logging in (guest customers).

To avoid: a button only accessible after logging into the customer account, or hidden in a third-level « Help » section. Regulators have treated similar hard-to-find placements as non-compliant.

To go further

CCPC penalties

Administrative fine of up to €60,000 and period extended to 12 months and 14 days.

The 13 exceptions

Cases in which the right of withdrawal does not apply.

The clause, then the compliant button

The T&Cs clause covers the information; the button covers the technical obligation (Directive (EU) 2023/2673). BackToMe sets it up in five minutes and proves every request. 7-day free trial, 0 € today.

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