Right of rescission

The right to void a contract without any penalty within three days as provided in the Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1968.

Rescission

The act of abolishing a contract and restoring, as far as possible, the status quo ante. While legal systems differ on the precise reasons for which a contract may be rescinded, it may occur due to an act of God or by mutual consent, provided that no substantial progress has been made toward completion of the contract. In the context of finance and economics, some contracts may be rescinded up to a certain point after they come into effect. For example, some mortgage refinance contracts allow the homeowner a period of three business days after signing the contract in which he/she may unilaterally rescind it. Likewise, the sale of land may be rescinded by either party up to the point the sale is recorded. Sometimes an option contract, especially a stock option, can be rescinded for a certain time after its exercise; in this situation, the person who exercised the option surrenders the underlying in exchange for the cash he/she paid for it.

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References in periodicals archive

The court then distinguished Beach, noting that it had addressed the issue of whether a borrower who had never taken any action to rescind within the three-year period could assert rescission as a defense rather than the issue of how such a right of rescission must be exercised in the first place.

(88) Because the borrowers undisputedly had sent written notification to the lenders within three years of execution of the loan, and because of the clarity of the statute, the borrowers had properly exercised their right of rescission. (89) Further, reasoned the dissent, the majority had misplaced its reliance on Beach as governing the instant case.

(93) Rather, the type of action required depends on what the statute provides, and TILA clearly allowed borrowers to exercise the right of rescission by mere notification.

Suit up! Favoring lenders over borrowers, Eighth Circuit requires lawsuit commencement to effect TILA rescissions

Stated differently, may an investor in a Rule 506 offering that does not otherwise meet all the requirements of the Florida Private Placement Exemption claim the issuer violated the Florida Securities Act by failing to register as an issuer/dealer and, therefore, demand a 30-day right of rescission under [sections] 517.2117

Counsel representing defrauded investors should be aware that the Florida Securities Act provides a three-day right of rescission to investors that purchase securities in a private placement to five or more persons in Florida.

Private placements in Florida after the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996

And under the new system, most of the old pitfalls would still exist: the three-year right of rescission remains in place, there is no mention of the "direct recourse before civil action" concept, and there is no mention of shaping penalties to reflect actual harm suffered by consumers.

Mortgage reform - staying alive

For transactions subject to this right of rescission, the Board also recommends that the disclosures given three days before closing also include a notice of the right not to complete the transaction and receive a refund.

Statements to the Congress