Jasz
VIP Contributor
You've signed a contract with a company, but you're not sure it's going to work out. Maybe you feel like it's an unfair deal, or maybe you know it's a bad deal, but you just don't know how to get out of it. Or maybe something has changed and you want to cancel the contract altogether.
No matter what the reason, if you've decided you don't want to fulfill your end of the contract, there are ways to terminate it without damaging your reputation or causing yourself legal trouble.
1) Understand the terms
Understand the terms of your contract so you can figure out what your options are. If you're still unsure about the terms, have a lawyer look them over for you so that he or she can advise you on what's best for your situation.
2) Look for loopholes
Is there anything in the contract that could allow you to get out of it? Perhaps there is an "escape clause" that will allow either party to cancel at any time without penalty. Sometimes these clauses specify an amount of time before canceling, or that one party must give notice before canceling. Or perhaps there is a clause that states that any breach of contract by one party will be grounds for termination by the other.
3) Court Order
A court may terminate the contract if there has been an unconscionable conduct in its formation or negotiation. In these cases, it would not be fair for either party to enforce or to continue with the obligations under a contract. Unconscionable conduct occurs when there has been some unfair advantage taken over one of the parties to the contract. This might include taking advantage of someone's lack of education, knowledge, age, disability or other factor that makes them vulnerable and less able to understand their rights and obligations under a contract.
4. A court may also set aside a term of a contract that it finds to be unfair. This is allowed in some countries.
No matter what the reason, if you've decided you don't want to fulfill your end of the contract, there are ways to terminate it without damaging your reputation or causing yourself legal trouble.
1) Understand the terms
Understand the terms of your contract so you can figure out what your options are. If you're still unsure about the terms, have a lawyer look them over for you so that he or she can advise you on what's best for your situation.
2) Look for loopholes
Is there anything in the contract that could allow you to get out of it? Perhaps there is an "escape clause" that will allow either party to cancel at any time without penalty. Sometimes these clauses specify an amount of time before canceling, or that one party must give notice before canceling. Or perhaps there is a clause that states that any breach of contract by one party will be grounds for termination by the other.
3) Court Order
A court may terminate the contract if there has been an unconscionable conduct in its formation or negotiation. In these cases, it would not be fair for either party to enforce or to continue with the obligations under a contract. Unconscionable conduct occurs when there has been some unfair advantage taken over one of the parties to the contract. This might include taking advantage of someone's lack of education, knowledge, age, disability or other factor that makes them vulnerable and less able to understand their rights and obligations under a contract.
4. A court may also set aside a term of a contract that it finds to be unfair. This is allowed in some countries.