Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 Consumer Protection Act · Section 14
Want out of a fixed-term contract? — section 14 cancellation letter, 20 business days counted
Short answer. The cancellation notice is already open below: fill in your contract details and send it in writing. Cancel at any time before the end of the term: 20 business days' notice in writing or other recorded manner (Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, s.14(2)(b)(i)(bb)).
- Cancellation takes effect (20 business days' notice): type the date
Working days: Monday to Friday; public holidays are not deducted. Check your own case.
Business days under s.2(6) of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008: the day the notice is received is not counted, the last day is, and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are skipped. The calculator skips weekends only — add one business day for each public holiday in the period (s.14(2)(b)(i)(bb)).
Start typing right in the document — no sign-up. It stays in this browser; save it to your free Layers account to keep it, open it on your phone and share it.
Lida, Layers template assistant
Tell me the date the supplier will receive your notice and I will count the 20 business days. Remember to skip public holidays.
Ask for the penalty breakdown in writing before you pay it. 'Reasonable' is the test in the Act, not the figure in the contract.
An illustrated character, not a lawyer.
Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cancel at any time before the end of the term | 20 business days' notice in writing or other recorded manner | Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, s.14(2)(b)(i)(bb) |
| Cancel at the end of the fixed term | No penalty or charge | s.14(2)(b)(i)(aa) |
| What you still owe | Amounts due under the agreement up to the date of cancellation | s.14(3)(a) |
| Cancellation penalty | Only a reasonable penalty for goods, services or discounts given for the full term; amounts that remain yours must be credited | s.14(3)(b) |
| How reasonable is measured | Factors include amounts paid, goods kept or returned, length of notice, original term and industry practice; may not negate your right to cancel | CPA Regulations 2011, reg. 5(2) and (3) |
| Maximum fixed term | 24 months from signature, unless a longer term is expressly agreed with a demonstrable financial benefit to you (or other listed exceptions) | Reg. 5(1) |
| Expiry reminder from the supplier | Not more than 80 and not less than 40 business days before the term ends; then month-to-month unless you cancel or renew | s.14(2)(c) and (d) |
| Supplier cancelling for your breach | 20 business days after written notice of a material failure, unless you fix it in that time | s.14(2)(b)(ii) |
| Who is covered | Not transactions between juristic persons; not credit agreements under the National Credit Act (the goods and services in them still are) | s.14(1); s.5(2)(d) |
Section 14 applies 'despite any provision of the consumer agreement to the contrary', so a contract clause cannot take this right away. Business days are counted under s.2(6) of the Act.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Find your contract details
Account number, start date, term and monthly amount — they are on your invoice or in the app.
2
Choose your route
Cancel now on 20 business days' notice, or tell the supplier to end the contract on its expiry date with no penalty.
3
Send the notice in writing
E-mail it to the official cancellations address and keep the sent e-mail; post or hand it in too if you can.
4
Count the 20 business days
Enter the date the supplier receives the notice. Skip public holidays.
5
Check the final account
Ask for the penalty breakdown in writing. It must be reasonable.
6
Stop the debit order
After the last valid charge, tell your bank to stop it if the supplier doesn't.
Questions
Do I need a reason to cancel?
No. Section 14 lets a consumer cancel a fixed-term agreement at any time on 20 business days' notice in writing. You pay what is owed up to the cancellation date and, if charged, a reasonable cancellation penalty.
How much can they charge me to cancel?
The Act does not set a percentage. The penalty must be reasonable, measured by factors in regulation 5(2) — such as what you have paid, the goods you keep, the notice you gave and the remaining term — and it may not be so high that it cancels out your right to cancel.
Does this work for my company's contract?
Not if both parties are juristic persons: section 14 does not apply to transactions between juristic persons. It is meant for consumers.
Official sources
Other documents
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.
This is a ready document and a deadline calculation, not legal advice.