A homeowner receives a door-to-door sales pitch and signs a $3,200 patio cover contract at 7 PM on Tuesday. When does the 3-day cancellation period expire?
Correct Answer
B) Friday at 11:59 PM
For contracts signed at the consumer's home, the 3-day period includes weekends. Tuesday evening to Friday midnight provides the full three days (Wed, Thu, Fri).
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Under California's Home Solicitation Sales Act (Civil Code §1689.5 et seq.), a consumer has 3 business days to cancel a home solicitation contract. The cancellation period runs through midnight of the third business day. Signed Tuesday evening, the three business days are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — expiring at midnight (11:59 PM) on Friday. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days, but in this case, all three days fall on weekdays.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Saturday at 11:59 PM
Saturday at 11:59 PM would apply if Saturday were counted as a business day, but the Home Solicitation Sales Act counts only business days (Monday–Friday). Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the three business days; Saturday is excluded.
Option C: Friday at 7 PM
Friday at 7 PM (the time the contract was signed, three days later) is a common intuitive answer, but legally incorrect. The cancellation period expires at midnight of the third business day, not at the same time the contract was signed. The law provides the full day — right up to 11:59 PM.
Option D: Saturday at 7 PM
Saturday at 7 PM incorrectly extends the period into Saturday (a non-business day) and uses the contract-signing time rather than midnight. Both elements are wrong — Saturday does not count as a business day and the deadline is midnight, not 7 PM.
Memory Technique
Think 'TWF' — Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri. Sign on Tuesday, cancel by Friday midnight. The 3 cancellation days are the three days AFTER signing: Wednesday (1), Thursday (2), Friday (3). Deadline = Friday at 11:59 PM. Weekends don't count, but here all 3 days are weekdays.
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