How to Cancel Any Internet Provider in 2026
Updated February 2026 · The complete ISP cancellation playbook
📊 The ISP Cancellation Problem
The average American household pays $75-150/month for internet — and most are overpaying by 30-50%. ISPs make cancellation deliberately difficult because their retention teams save $2-3 billion annually in would-be cancellations. This guide levels the playing field.
ISP Cancellation Difficulty Rankings
Not all ISPs are equally painful to leave. Here's how the major providers stack up:
- 🔴 Comcast/Xfinity: Very Hard — 20-30 min calls, 3+ retention offers, aggressive equipment fees. Full guide
- 🔴 AT&T Internet: Hard — phone only, contract ETFs up to $180, equipment return within 21 days. Full guide
- 🔴 Cox: Hard — phone only, $15/DAY unreturned equipment fees, 30 days notice. Full guide
- 🟡 Spectrum: Medium — no contracts (legally required), but phone-only cancellation with retention. Cancel page
- 🟡 Frontier: Hard (hold times) — no ETF on most plans, but 30-60 min holds. Full guide
- 🟡 CenturyLink/Lumen: Medium — online cancellation sometimes works, no contracts on most plans
- 🟢 Google Fiber: Easy — cancel online, no contracts, no ETF, equipment pickup arranged
- 🟢 T-Mobile Home Internet: Easy — cancel online or in-store, no contracts, return gateway
- 🟢 Starlink: Easy — cancel online, return kit within 30 days for full refund
The Universal ISP Cancellation Script
This script works with every major ISP. Customize the details but keep the structure:
- Before calling: Have your account number, last 4 SSN, and a pen ready
- Opening: "I need to cancel my internet service effective [date]."
- When asked why: "I'm switching to [competitor] because they offer [faster speeds/lower price/no contract]."
- Retention offer #1: "I appreciate the offer, but I've already committed to the new provider."
- Retention offer #2: "Please process my cancellation. I've made my decision."
- If transferred: "I spoke with the previous agent and declined the retention offers. Please process my disconnection."
- Before hanging up: Get confirmation number, final bill date, equipment return instructions
Equipment Return: The Universal Checklist
🚨 Equipment fees are ISPs' biggest post-cancellation revenue source
- Return window: 10-30 days depending on provider (10 for Comcast/Cox, 21 for AT&T, 30 for Frontier/Starlink)
- What to return: Modem, router, gateway, cable boxes, remotes, power cords, coax cables
- Best method: In-person at a provider store — get an instant printed receipt
- If shipping: Use the prepaid label, keep the tracking number, take photos of everything in the box
- Document everything: Serial numbers, photos of devices, receipt/tracking number
- Keep receipts for 1 year — ISPs regularly claim equipment wasn't returned months later
- Penalty fees: $100-$300+ per device, or $15/day (Cox) for unreturned equipment
Early Termination Fees by Provider
- Comcast: Up to $230 (contract plans) / $0 (no-contract, 30 days notice)
- AT&T: Up to $180 (contract) / device balance due (installment plans)
- Cox: Varies by market / $0 on most current plans
- Spectrum: $0 — legally prohibited from contracts (merger condition)
- Frontier: $0 on most plans
- CenturyLink: $0 on most plans / up to $200 on legacy contracts
- Google Fiber / T-Mobile / Starlink: $0
Pro tip: If your ETF is high, wait until your contract is nearly expired. The fee decreases each month. Sometimes paying 1-2 more months is cheaper than the ETF.
The "Cancel to Negotiate" Strategy
If you don't actually want to leave — you just want a lower bill — calling to cancel is the most effective strategy. Here's how it works:
- ISP retention teams can offer 20-50% discounts that aren't available to regular reps
- The deeper discounts come on the second or third offer — decline the first one
- Mention a specific competitor with a specific price: "T-Mobile is offering me $50/month for 300 Mbps"
- If the first agent can't match, ask to be transferred to the "loyalty department"
- Do this every 6-12 months when your promotional pricing expires
2026 Alternatives: Why You Have More Options Than Ever
The internet landscape has changed dramatically. You're no longer stuck with your cable monopoly:
- 5G Home Internet (T-Mobile, Verizon): $25-50/mo, no contract, no data caps, setup in minutes
- Starlink: $120/mo, available almost everywhere including rural areas, 50-200 Mbps
- Municipal fiber: Cities building their own networks — often $50-70/mo for gigabit
- Fixed wireless (Tmhi, Verizon LTE Home): $30-50/mo in many areas
- Your phone as hotspot: Many unlimited plans include 50-100 GB hotspot data — enough for light users
After Cancellation: Protect Yourself
- Monitor your bank statement for 3 months — ISPs frequently continue billing after cancellation
- Check your credit report in 60 days — ISPs sometimes send bogus equipment charges to collections
- Save your confirmation number and all correspondence indefinitely
- File an FCC complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov if you experience unauthorized charges
- Consider a chargeback with your bank for any post-cancellation charges (last resort)
💰 The Average ISP Savings
Households that switch from a legacy ISP to a modern alternative save an average of $40-80/month — that's $480-$960/year. Even negotiating your current plan down (using the cancel-to-negotiate strategy) typically saves $20-30/month. Either way, you win.
🔍 Find all your ISP charges
Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and we'll identify every internet, cable, and telecom charge — including those buried fees you might not recognize. Takes 30 seconds.