Do I owe a cancellation fee to the roofing company for an unstarted contract?

Full question:

I need to see what right a home owner has when already sign a contract with a roofing company that has not done any work to Improve the property value. They want 1,500.00 to cancel to the contract when nothing has been done. Do I owe this?

• Category: Contractors
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Oklahoma

Answer:

A written contract protects both you and the contractor. It should clearly state the total price, payment schedule, and any cancellation penalties. For home improvement projects, a downpayment of about one-third of the total price is typical, but state laws may limit this amount. You should not make further payments for work that hasn't been completed; instead, schedule payments after each project phase.

If you signed the contract in your home and in the presence of the contractor or their representative, you usually have three working days to cancel. The contractor must inform you of your cancellation rights both verbally and in writing and provide the necessary forms. If you need emergency repairs, you can waive this three-day cancellation right, which is important since contractors often wait until the cooling-off period ends before starting work.

The law requires contractors to give you written notice of your right to cancel within three business days of signing the contract, as long as it was signed outside their place of business. Use this time to review your contract. If you have concerns, feel free to cancel. If you do cancel, notify the contractor and ensure your cancellation is in writing, sent before midnight of the third day. Sending it via registered mail provides proof of the mailing date and receipt.

After cancellation, you can either negotiate with the contractor or choose a different one. According to Oklahoma law, you may rescind a contract if consent was obtained through fraud or if the contractor violates the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act (15 O.S. § 751 et seq.).