- Ofcom's General Conditions require landline providers to make it easy to leave and to set out the terms, including any early exit charges, before a contract is agreed.
- A contract bought at a distance, such as online or by phone, generally carries a 14-day cooling off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
- If a provider increases the price in a way the contract did not clearly set out in advance, Ofcom rules give affected customers a right to exit without an early termination charge.
- Leaving inside a minimum term can trigger an early termination charge that reflects the remaining payments owed, less costs the provider no longer incurs.
- Ofcom's One Touch Switch process lets customers move between providers on the same network by contacting only the new provider, who arranges the switch and cancellation.
To cancel a landline contract, give the required notice to your provider. A cooling off period applies to distance contracts, and early termination fees may apply if you leave within the minimum term.
Last reviewed: June 2026
How to cancel a landline contract
Cancelling a landline contract starts with contacting the provider that supplies the service and telling it clearly that you wish to end the agreement. Providers are required by Ofcom's General Conditions to offer accessible ways to cancel and to handle the request fairly, so the route may be by phone, online account, or in writing depending on the company. The key is to give an unambiguous instruction and to keep a record of when it was made, because the date of notice affects when the service ends and what, if anything, is owed.
If the cancellation is part of moving to a new provider on the same Openreach network, the simpler route is usually the switching process rather than a direct cancellation. Under Ofcom's One Touch Switch rules, a customer contacts only the gaining provider, which arranges both the new service and the cancellation of the old one. This avoids the need to contact the losing provider separately and reduces the risk of a gap or overlap in service. A standalone cancellation, by contrast, is appropriate when the service is being stopped altogether rather than transferred.
Notice periods and how they work
Most landline contracts require a period of notice before the service ends. The length of that notice is set out in the contract terms, and providers must make those terms clear before the agreement is entered into. The notice period means the service, and the charges for it, typically continue for a defined window after the cancellation request is made. Giving notice early does not usually mean the service stops instantly; it starts the clock on the notice window.
It is worth distinguishing between the notice period and the minimum term. The minimum term is the committed length of the contract, often a fixed number of months. The notice period is how much warning the provider needs to process the end of service. A customer can be outside the minimum term, and so free of early exit charges, but still need to give the contractual notice. Checking both figures in the contract before cancelling helps avoid an unexpected final charge or an unintended continuation of service.
Early termination fees
If a landline contract has a minimum term and a customer leaves before it ends, the provider may apply an early termination charge. Ofcom expects these charges to be set out clearly before the contract is agreed and to reflect the value of the remaining commitment rather than acting as a penalty. In broad terms, the charge is based on the payments that would have been due for the rest of the term, with deductions for costs the provider no longer has to bear once the service stops, such as certain ongoing wholesale costs.
There are important situations where an early termination charge should not apply. Under Ofcom rules, if a provider increases the price during the contract in a way that was not clearly and prominently set out in advance, affected customers must be told and given a window to leave without an exit charge. Cancelling within a valid cooling off period also avoids early termination fees. The precise amount of any charge depends on the contract and the point at which cancellation occurs, so the figure should be confirmed with the provider rather than assumed.
The cancellation process and your rights at a glance
The table below summarises the main stages of cancelling a landline contract and the consumer protection that applies at each point.
| Stage | What happens | Your protection |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling off | Cancel a distance contract early | 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 |
| Within minimum term | Leaving before the term ends | Early termination charge must be fair and pre-disclosed |
| Mid-contract price rise | Provider raises the price unexpectedly | Right to exit without exit charge under Ofcom rules |
| Giving notice | Service ends after notice window | Terms must be clear before you sign |
| Switching | Moving to a new provider | One Touch Switch handles cancellation for you |
Cooling off rights and cancelling without ending broadband
When a landline contract is bought at a distance, meaning online, over the phone or by mail rather than face to face, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 generally give a 14-day cooling off period. Within that window a customer can cancel without an early termination charge, though they may have to pay for any service already used if they asked for it to start during the cooling off period. The cooling off right is a statutory protection separate from the provider's own terms, and it applies broadly to distance and off-premises consumer contracts.
Where a landline and broadband are bought together, cancelling one without the other depends on how the package is structured. If the two are sold as separate services on the same account, it may be possible to drop the landline element while keeping the broadband, particularly on modern connections where the broadband does not rely on an analogue voice line. If they are sold as a single bundled contract with one minimum term, cancelling part of it may not be possible without affecting the whole, or may trigger a re-pricing of the remaining service. The provider's terms govern which applies, so it is sensible to confirm the position before cancelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel a landline contract?
Contact your provider and give a clear instruction to end the contract, keeping a record of the date. Providers must offer accessible ways to cancel under Ofcom rules. If you are moving to a new provider on the same network, the One Touch Switch process lets the new provider arrange the cancellation for you.
What notice do I need to give to cancel a landline?
The notice period is set out in your contract terms, which the provider must make clear before you agree. Service and charges usually continue through the notice window after you ask to cancel. Notice is separate from the minimum term, so check both figures before cancelling.
Is there an early termination fee on a landline contract?
If you leave before the end of a minimum term, an early termination charge may apply. Ofcom expects such charges to be disclosed in advance and to reflect the remaining commitment rather than act as a penalty. No charge should apply if you leave within a valid cooling off period or in response to an unexpected mid-contract price rise.
What are my cooling off rights for a landline?
A landline contract bought at a distance, such as online or by phone, generally carries a 14-day cooling off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Within that period you can cancel without an early termination charge, though you may owe for service you asked to use during the window. This is a statutory right separate from the provider's terms.
Can I cancel a landline without cancelling broadband?
It depends on how the services are sold. If the landline and broadband are separate services on one account, you may be able to drop the landline while keeping the broadband, especially on modern connections that do not need an analogue voice line. If they form a single bundled contract, cancelling part may affect the whole or re-price the remainder, so check the provider's terms.
