Leaving your contract early: your rights

Short answer: you can leave a UK phone or broadband contract early, but you usually pay an exit fee. You can leave free of charge if your provider raises prices beyond what your contract set out, within 14 days of signing up online or by phone, or once your minimum term has ended.

When you can leave without paying

Situation	What you can do	Source
Price rise not set out in your contract, or bigger than it allows	At least 30 days' notice, then 30 days to leave penalty-free	Ofcom: telecoms price rises, your rights
Contract agreed online or by phone, within 14 days	Cancel under the cooling-off rules (not for contracts signed in a shop)	Citizens Advice: cancelling a phone, TV or internet contract
Minimum term has ended	Leave with the normal notice; your provider must send an end-of-contract notice 10 to 40 days before the term ends	Ofcom: are you in or out of contract?
Provider changes your contract in a way that's not to your advantage	Usually a right to leave without penalty within one month of being told	Ofcom: contracts

Leaving early: what it costs

If none of those apply, you can still leave, but your provider can charge an early termination charge, usually based on the monthly payments left. Ask for the exact amount in writing before you switch. When you request a PAC or STAC, your provider must send you information about any early termination charges with the code.

Phones bought on a separate device plan are a separate agreement: leaving the airtime contract doesn't clear what's left on the phone.

Mid-contract price rises

Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has banned inflation-linked and percentage price rises in new phone, broadband and pay-TV contracts. Any rise must be set out in pounds and pence before you sign, with the date it applies. Contracts signed before 17 January 2025 may still have inflation-linked or percentage rises. If your provider raises your price by more than your contract allows, you have 30 days from the notice to leave without exit fees. Our SIM-only comparison builds any rises into the true monthly cost.

Cooling-off: changed your mind?

For contracts agreed online or by phone, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 normally give you 14 days to cancel. Tell the provider in writing, keep the confirmation, and return any equipment the way they ask, with proof of postage. You may have to pay for service you used before cancelling.

Switching mobile: PAC and STAC

• To keep your number, text PAC to 65075. To leave without your number, text STAC to 75075. Both are free.
• A PAC is valid for 30 days. Give it to your new network and your number should normally move within one working day.
• Ofcom bans mobile providers charging for notice periods that run after your switch date, and you're entitled to compensation if the switch takes longer than one working day.

Our step-by-step switch tool walks you through it.

Switching broadband: One Touch Switch

Since 12 September 2024 you only need to contact the broadband or landline provider you're joining; they arrange the switch, including between different networks such as Openreach-based providers and Virgin Media. You don't pay notice-period charges after the switch date, and providers must compensate you if you're left without service for more than one working day.

Sources

• Ofcom: telecoms price rises, your rights
• Ofcom: pounds-and-pence rule (17 Jan 2025)
• Ofcom: contracts
• Ofcom: are you in or out of contract?
• Ofcom: switching mobile
• Ofcom: One Touch Switch
• Citizens Advice: cancelling a phone, TV or internet contract
• Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013

Checked 30 Oct 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. For your own contract, check its terms or ask Citizens Advice.

Questions

Can I leave my phone contract early?

Yes, but you'll usually pay an early termination charge, which is normally what's left on the contract. Ask your provider for the exact figure in writing; when you request a PAC or STAC they must tell you about any early termination charges.

My provider is putting my price up. Can I leave for free?

Only if the rise wasn't set out in your contract, or it's bigger than the contract allows. Then they must give you at least 30 days' notice and you can leave penalty-free within 30 days. Rises written into your contract in pounds and pence don't give you that right.

Is there a cooling-off period on phone contracts?

If you agreed the contract online or by phone, you normally have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. This doesn't apply to contracts signed in a shop. You may have to pay for anything you used.

How do I switch mobile network and keep my number?

Text PAC to 65075 (free). Give the code to your new network; the PAC is valid for 30 days and your number should move within one working day. Text STAC to 75075 if you don't want to keep the number.

How does One Touch Switch work for broadband?

Since 12 September 2024 you only need to contact your new broadband or landline provider and they arrange the switch, even between different networks. You don't pay notice-period charges for your old service after the switch date.