How to Cancel Vivint in 2026 — Escape the Most Predatory Home Security Contract

Last updated: February 2026 • Difficulty: Very Hard

Vivint's Trap Structure

• Service contract: 42-60 months ($40-60/month) = $1,680-3,600 total commitment
• Equipment financing: Separate loan through Citizens Bank — $30-60/month for 42-60 months
• Early termination fee: Remaining months × monthly rate = often $1,000-2,500+
• Equipment buyout: Even if you cancel service, you may still owe on equipment financing
• Auto-renewal: Converts to month-to-month after contract ends — but you must actively cancel
• Total cost over 5 years: $4,200-7,200 including equipment + monitoring

Escape Route 1: 3-Day Right of Rescission

If you signed up within the last 3 business days:

1. Federal law gives you 3 business days to cancel any door-to-door sale
2. Call 1-800-216-5232 immediately
3. Send written cancellation via certified mail to: Vivint, 4931 N 300 W, Provo, UT 84604
4. Include: your name, address, account number, date of contract, "I am exercising my 3-day right of rescission"
5. They must refund everything and remove equipment at their cost

Escape Route 2: Wait for Contract End

1. Check your contract end date: call 1-800-216-5232 or check your Vivint app
2. Send written cancellation 30 days before contract end
3. Send via certified mail (not just a phone call — get paper proof)
4. Cancel the equipment financing separately through Citizens Bank if applicable
5. If contract has already expired: you're month-to-month and can cancel with 30-day notice

Escape Route 3: Moving (Sometimes Works)

• If moving: Vivint may offer to transfer service to your new address (they want to keep you)
• If new address can't be serviced: This is grounds for early termination without fee
• If you sell your home: You can transfer the contract to the new buyer (if they agree)
• Military PCS orders: SCRA (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) allows penalty-free cancellation with PCS orders

Escape Route 4: Negotiate the ETF

• Call and say: "I want to cancel. What's my early termination fee?"
• If the fee seems high, ask: "Can you reduce the ETF? I'm prepared to pay $X to settle."
• Offer 50-60% of the ETF as a lump sum settlement — they sometimes accept
• File a BBB complaint if they're unreasonable — Vivint has a dedicated BBB response team
• State attorney general complaint: mention this as your next step during negotiation

Better Alternatives (No Contracts)

• SimpliSafe ($0-28/month, no contract): Cancel anytime, keep hardware, local alarm free
• Ring Alarm ($10-20/month, no contract): Works with Amazon ecosystem, affordable hardware
• Abode ($6-20/month, no contract): HomeKit/Google/Alexa compatible, DIY install
• Wyze ($5/month, no contract): Cheapest professional monitoring available
• DIY cameras + no monitoring: Wyze/Blink cameras with local storage — $0/month after hardware

The Math: Why Vivint Is the Worst Deal