How long can a phone or internet contract last in France, and how do I end it?
A phone or internet contract cannot commit you for more than 24 months. When you cancel, the notice period cannot exceed 10 days from the day the operator receives your request, unless you ask for a longer one.
Phone and internet contracts often start with a minimum term and then run on. How long that first term may be, and how much notice you give once it is over, depends on the rules in France.
📜 The rules in France
The details
- If the operator offers a commitment of more than 12 months, it must also offer the same deal for 12 months under the same commercial conditions. (service-public.gouv.fr)
- Since 1 January 2023, if you cancel from the end of the 12th month you owe nothing for the remaining commitment; if the contract includes a subsidised phone or other device, at most 20% of the remaining amount. (arcep.fr)
- Your bills must show the remaining commitment, its end date or that it has ended. For a mobile, calling 3179 also gives you the end date by SMS. (arcep.fr)
- The main operators accept common legitimate reasons for leaving early without fees: dismissal from a permanent job, over-indebtedness, a move making the service unavailable, a long stay abroad, illness or disability, imprisonment of 3+ months, death, force majeure. Send proof. (arcep.fr)
- Once the commitment has ended, or with no commitment, you can cancel at any time without giving a reason and without commitment-related fees. (service-public.gouv.fr)
Médiation des communications électroniques
Free mediation of disputes with member operators, once you have been through the operator's customer and consumer services. Opinion within 90 days.
DGCCRF – RéponseConso
Answers your questions on consumer law by phone (non-premium number).
🪜 Step by step
- Find your start date and termYour contract summary or online account shows when the minimum term ends and whether the contract now runs on.
- Check the notice periodOnce the minimum term is over, the notice period is often short. The rule for France is on this page.
- Give notice in a way you can proveUse the provider’s online cancellation, an email or a letter, and keep the confirmation with the end date.
- Return equipment and check the last billSend back rented equipment if you are asked to, and check that you are not billed after the end date.
📇 Who to contact
❓ Questions
Can I leave during the minimum term?
Usually only by paying an exit fee or the remaining charges. Some situations, such as a change to your contract terms, can give you the right to leave earlier.
Does my contract renew automatically?
Many contracts run on after the minimum term. Whether the provider must remind you first, and how you can end it then, is in the rules for France on this page.
Does a phone bought with the contract change anything?
A phone or other equipment bought with the contract can come with its own payments. Check whether they continue if you end the service.
📎 Sources
- arcep.fr →
- service-public.gouv.fr →
- service-public.gouv.fr →
- mediation-telecom.org →
- arcep.fr →
- mediation-telecom.org →
- economie.gouv.fr →
- arcep.fr →
- inc-conso.fr →
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