Most problems with a service contract start before the paper is signed. A hurried sale, a promise that never reaches the page, and a refusal to hand over the full document are early signs of a sale you may later want to undo. Name them while you are still at the table.
Signs to name at the table
An offer that expires at once, or a price said to hold only for the day, is a pressure tactic. You may ask for more time and may leave to think. A seller who will not give you the full contract before you pay is leaving a gap in what you can check. A coverage statement made out loud that does not appear in the written paper is a term the paper does not contain. A bundle with a home sale or a finance deal you did not ask for can hide the cost of the contract inside another decision.
What to do when you see them
Stop before any payment. Ask for the full written contract, the terms, and the name of the company that stands behind the promise. Write down, with the time and the seller's name, anything said that is not in the paper. Ask the seller to put the spoken promise in writing, and note whether the seller agrees. If the seller will not write it down, the promise has no paper behind it.
Compare with the state rules
Some states set rules on how these sales may be made and whether a buyer may cancel after signing. Each state page names the statute or program that governs it, such as the Arizona service contract rules and roster page. This article has not read the statute of any state and does not say whether any state gives a cooling-off period. Read the statute for your state before relying on any cancellation right.
Keep a record
Keep the signed copy, the sales paper, your notes of what was said, and any written reply. If a problem comes up later, that record shows what was offered. A seller who is clear about the paper will have no reason to object to you keeping it.