Consumer Contract Advice
Understanding what an agreement actually requires of you.
Consumer agreements in Japan can be difficult to parse, and businesses do not always represent the legal position accurately. We read the contract, explain what it means in plain language, and tell you where you stand.
Back to homeWhat this service provides
A clear written explanation of where you stand with an agreement.
This service covers advice for individuals about agreements with businesses — cancellation rights, terms that may not be legally enforceable, subscription and continuous service arrangements, and the routes available through consumer affairs bodies before any formal step is needed.
The fee is ¥17,000 JPY. Most matters are resolved within three weeks. Where a consumer centre is the more appropriate route, we say so at no additional cost.
Written explanation of your position
You will receive a written explanation of the applicable legal position — what the agreement requires, what it does not, and where any terms may not bind you as stated.
Drafted letter where correspondence helps
Where a letter to the other party is the right next step, we draft it as part of this service. It will be clear about your position without being aggressive in tone.
Honest assessment, including when to use a consumer centre
Where the matter is better handled through a consumer centre at no cost, we say so plainly. There is no incentive here to recommend paid assistance when a free route exists.
Why people seek this advice
Agreements are written by the other side's lawyers — not yours.
Consumer contracts in Japan are frequently presented as non-negotiable. A business will often assert that a cancellation is not possible, that a fee applies, or that a subscription continues indefinitely — and a consumer with no independent view of the applicable law has difficulty knowing whether that is accurate.
Japan's Consumer Contract Act contains provisions that can render certain terms unenforceable, and the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions sets out cancellation rights that businesses are required to honour. Neither is easily read by someone without a legal background, and both are often ignored in the way businesses communicate with customers.
The result is that people often pay fees they were not obliged to pay, or accept cancellation refusals they were entitled to reject. This service is for those who would rather know their position first.
Situations this service covers
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A business claims you cannot cancel despite a cooling-off period applying
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A subscription service continues to charge after you attempted to cancel
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You were pressured into signing a contract and are uncertain whether it is binding
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A penalty clause is being applied and you want to know if it is enforceable
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A business is claiming ongoing fees under a continuous service arrangement you thought had ended
How we work through this
We read the contract, check the applicable law, and tell you what it means — in writing.
We begin by reading the agreement — or, where you have only a verbal account of what was said, by understanding the transaction in enough detail to identify what law applies. We then check the relevant provisions of the Consumer Contract Act and any applicable specific legislation, such as the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions for door-to-door sales or subscription agreements.
The output is a written explanation of your position. It covers what you are required to do under the agreement, what terms may not apply to you, and what route makes sense next — whether that is a letter to the other party, a submission to a consumer centre, or simply understanding that the agreement does bind you as the business claims.
Where a drafted letter is the appropriate next step, it is prepared as part of this service and explained to you before it is sent, so you understand what it asserts and why.
What to have ready when you contact us
- A copy of the agreement or contract, if you have one in writing
- Any correspondence from the business about the matter
- A brief account of how the agreement was entered into
- The amount in dispute or being claimed, where relevant
- Any deadline the business has set for a response
You do not need all of this before making contact. A brief description of the situation is enough to start.
Working together
A short process, with a clear output at the end.
01
You send us the details
A brief note and any documents you have. We will ask if we need anything else before proceeding.
Day 1
02
We review and assess
We read the agreement, check the applicable law, and prepare a written explanation of your position.
3–7 working days
03
You receive the output
A written explanation, and a drafted letter if appropriate. We talk through the next step with you.
Within 3 weeks total
Fee and scope
A single fixed fee, regardless of how long the review takes.
Service fee
¥17,000 JPY
Consumer contract matters tend to be self-contained. A single fee covers the review, the written explanation, and a drafted letter where that is the appropriate next step.
Where the situation is better handled through a consumer centre at no cost, we identify that in the written explanation. This is included in the service — there is no charge for pointing you toward a better option.
What is included
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Review of the agreement and relevant circumstances
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Written explanation of the applicable legal position
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Identification of any terms that may be unenforceable
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Drafted letter to the other party, where correspondence is appropriate
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Assessment of whether a consumer centre is the more appropriate route
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Available in English and Japanese
How this approach works
Most consumer disputes resolve without formal proceedings.
Japan's consumer protection framework gives individuals more standing than is commonly understood. A well-worded letter that identifies the applicable statutory right — clearly and without unnecessary heat — resolves the majority of consumer contract disputes before any formal channel is needed.
Where the other party's position is legally sound and the agreement does bind you as they claim, we tell you that too. Knowing your position — even when it is not what you hoped — is more useful than uncertainty, and saves time and money in the longer run.
Where a consumer centre or mediation body is the right route, we explain which one applies to your situation and what to expect from that process, without any charge for the referral guidance.
Realistic expectations
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Written explanation
Delivered within 3–7 working days of receiving the relevant documents
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Drafted letter
Included where appropriate; reviewed with you before it is sent
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Response from the other party
Outside our control; typically 1–3 weeks after a letter is received
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Consumer centre route
Where identified as the better option, we explain the process and the expected timeline for that route
Before you commit
We will tell you if this service is not what you need.
Some consumer situations are straightforward enough that a consumer centre is the right first call, at no cost. Others involve business-to-business arrangements that fall outside consumer protection law entirely. We identify this at the outset and will tell you directly if a different route is more appropriate.
If you contact us and the situation clearly falls outside this service, we say so before any fee is agreed. There is no incentive to take on work that is not suited to what this service provides.
The written explanation is the main deliverable. If, after reading it, you have a question about something we have not addressed clearly, you are welcome to ask — clarifying questions within scope are part of the engagement.
What you can rely on
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An honest assessment of whether this service fits your situation
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A clear explanation of your legal position, including where that is not in your favour
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No fee if we conclude at the outset that the situation does not need paid assistance
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Clarifying questions answered within scope without additional charge
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Plain language throughout — no legal phrasing without explanation
Getting started
Send us a brief description and the document, if you have it.
A sentence or two about the agreement and what the business is claiming is enough to start. Attach the contract if you have a copy, or describe the situation and we will ask any clarifying questions before quoting a fee.
If there is a deadline from the other party, mention it in your initial message. We can often assess urgency quickly and advise on whether the timeline requires an accelerated approach.
After your inquiry: we review the situation and reply within one working day with whether this service applies, and what the next step looks like. No obligation is created until you agree to proceed.
Contact details
info@nexusdriftlab.com
TELEPHONE
+81 92 3618 5294
ADDRESS
2-9-14 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku
Fukuoka 810-0004, Japan
REPLY TIME
Within one working day of your inquiry
Consumer contract advice
Not sure whether you are bound by what the business is claiming?
Send us the agreement and a brief note about the situation. We will review it and reply within one working day with whether this service applies and what the next step looks like.
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