The 7-day window: why NCE contracts demand discipline
After ordering or renewing, you have only 7 calendar days to cancel or reduce. Miss the deadline and you are committed until the end of the term.
Under the New Commerce Experience (NCE), strict rules apply to CSP subscriptions: after every order and every renewal there are exactly 7 calendar days during which a subscription can be cancelled (pro-rata refunded) or reduced. After that, you are committed until the end of the term.
Adding licenses is possible at any time; reducing only within the 7-day window or at renewal. Practical advice: size conservatively and add licenses when needed – and track every subscription's renewal date in your calendar.
New since 2026: if a subscription expires without renewal, there is no free grace period any more; continued use under "extended service terms" is charged. Promotional prices only apply for the purchased term – at renewal the discount only remains if the promotion is still running.
Monthly terms offer flexibility but cost about 20% more. For fluctuating workforces, a mix is recommended: core staff on annual terms, the variable share monthly.
Independent guidance, not legally binding licensing advice. The Microsoft Product Terms and your CSP partner’s quote are authoritative.