Is it safe to rip up a signed contract if the company gave me the original by mistake?
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Is it safe to rip up a signed contract if the company gave me the original by mistake?
My girlfriend and I visited a timeshare seminar. We were interested in the company’s offer but in the end we rejected the deal. The company then offered us a “sampler” that would allow us to pay some money and try a few vacation packages. We ended up signing up for this, but now we’re having second thoughts about the entire thing. Unfortunately the company has a no refund policy. The company is now harassing us because they gave us the original contracts instead of the copies. They want the originals back. Is it OK for us to rip up the paperwork? Would this void the contract?
Asked on August 23, 2011 Nevada
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
No, unfortunately ripping up the original in no way voids or terminates the contract. The paperwork evidences the parties' agreement; however, it is the act of coming to an agreement and either exchanging consideration (something of value) and/or promising to exchange consideration (e.g. when nothing changes hands on the spot) that creates the enforceable contract. Once the contract is created, what happens to its physical manifestations does not matter. (Consider: otherwise, *every* time a contract was inconvenient for the party holding the original(s), that party could get out of its legal obligations by using a paper shredder.) Ripping up the contract may be emotionally satisfying, and if the other party did not keep its own copy(ies) may make it hard for the other company to prove the existence and terms of the contract, but that's a practical consideration; legally, it has no effect.
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