By Can I cancel my French mobile plan for free?
The short answer: it depends on your operator and plan type.
Most French mobile plans can be cancelled for free, but Bouygues Telecom charges a €5 exit fee on all its mobile plans, including B&You. Whether you pay anything else depends on the type of plan you're on:
| Your situation | Can you cancel for free? |
|---|---|
| No-contract plan (sans engagement) Except Bouygues Group | ✅ Yes, anytime, no fees |
| No-contract plan - Bouygues group (B&You, NRJ Mobile, Cdiscount Mobile, Auchan Telecom) | ⚠️ €5 exit fee applies |
| Fixed-term contract, past month 12 | ✅ Yes, no fees |
| Fixed-term contract, under 12 months | ⚠️ Fees apply: remaining months For 24-month contracts: capped at 25% in year 2 |
| Leaving France (motif légitime) | ✅ Yes, free with proof of departure |
| Switching to another operator | ✅ Usually free, SFR & Free reimburse exit fees |
| Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) | ✅ Yes, just stop using it |
💡 Good to know
Not sure what type of plan you're on? Dial 3179 from your French mobile: it's free, available 24/7, and gives you your plan details and RIO code instantly.
How to cancel a no-contract plan (forfait sans engagement)
If you're on a no-contract plan, like all Free Mobile plans, Sosh, RED by SFR or B&You, cancellation is straightforward. You have 3 options:
- →Online: Log into your personal account (espace client) and request cancellation. Since 2023, French law (loi du 9 mars 2023) requires all operators to offer online cancellation if you subscribed online. This is the fastest option.
- →By phone: Call your operator's customer service line (see numbers below).
- →By registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception): Accepted by all providers.
Use our free cancellation letter template →
What you'll need to provide:
- →Your full name ;
- →Your French phone number ;
- →Your account number (numéro de client) ;
- →Your requested cancellation date (minimum 10 days from receipt).
⏱️ Timing
Your plan is cancelled 10 days after your provider receives the request, regardless of the method used.
📖 For full step-by-step instructions on how to contact your operator, see our pages: Orange · SFR · Bouygues Telecom · Free
How to cancel a fixed-term contract early
Fixed-term contracts (12 or 24 months) typically come with early termination fees (frais de résiliation). But there are several ways to reduce or eliminate them.
Option 1: Wait until month 13
Under the loi Châtel, early termination fees are capped at 25% of the remaining monthly payments from the 13th month onwards. If you're close to month 12, waiting a few weeks can save you significantly.
Option 2: Switch to another operator (and let them pay)
When you switch via number portability (using your RIO code), your new provider handles the cancellation for you, and some even reimburse your mobile exit fees:
- →SFR reimburses up to €5 on mobile exit fees (via online refund form) ;
- →Free Mobile reimburses up to €10 on mobile exit fees.
This is often the cheapest and most seamless way to exit a contract.
How to switch mobile provider in France →
Option 3: Invoke a legitimate reason (motif légitime)
See the section below for free cancellation when leaving France or in other recognised circumstances.
Cancelling for free: legitimate reasons (motifs légitimes)
French law allows you to cancel any mobile contract, including fixed-term ones, without fees if you have a valid reason. You'll need to provide supporting documents.
| Reason (motif légitime) | Required documentation (pièces justificatives) |
|---|---|
| Leaving France (abroad for 6+ months) | New lease/property ownership abroad, work contract, school enrolment, or residency card |
| Redundancy (CDI contract) | Attestation de licenciement (official layoff letter) |
| Serious illness or disability | Medical certificate |
| Incarceration | Incarceration certificate |
| Death | Death certificate |
| Bankruptcy | Letter from Banque de France |
| Force majeure | Court decision |
| Prolonged service failure | Proof of complaint filed + failure documentation |
📌 Leaving France?
You must have been a customer for at least 3 months and your departure must be for at least 6 months. Send your cancellation with proof via registered post or online.
How to get your RIO code (and what it's for)
Your RIO (Relevé d'Identité Opérateur) is a unique code tied to your phone number. You need it only if you want to keep your number when switching provider: your new operator uses it to handle the cancellation and port your number automatically.
How to get your RIO:
- →Dial 3179 from your French mobile (free, 24/7, automated) ;
- →Your RIO code is read out and sent to you by SMS ;
- →Give this code to your new provider when subscribing: they handle everything.
💡 Switching provider?
If you're switching rather than just cancelling, your new provider handles the old contract cancellation for you. See our full guide: how to switch mobile provider in France →
How to cancel a prepaid (pay-as-you-go) plan
Cancelling a prepaid plan is the simplest case: just stop using it. Your number and remaining credit will be deactivated automatically after a period of inactivity. If you want a refund of your remaining credit, send a written request by registered post to your provider.
| Provider | Number deactivated after |
|---|---|
| Orange | 6 months after credit expires |
| SFR | 6 months after credit expires |
| Bouygues Telecom ( My European SIM) | 12 months from activation (non-rechargeable) |
| Free mobile | 30 days after last top-up expires |
| La Poste Mobile | 3 months after last top-up expires |
| Lebara | 3 months after last top-up expires |
| Lycamobile | 120 days of inactivity (SIM blocked at 90 days) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my French mobile plan online? Read more Close
Yes. Since 2023, French law (loi du 9 mars 2023) requires operators to offer online cancellation if you originally subscribed online. Log into your espace client and look for “résilier mon forfait” or contact support via chat.
How long does it take to cancel a French mobile plan? Read more Close
Your cancellation takes effect 10 days after your provider receives the request, whether you cancel online, by phone, or by post.
Can I cancel my French mobile plan if I'm leaving France? Read more Close
Yes. Leaving France is a recognised motif légitime under French law. You can cancel any contract, including fixed-term ones, without early termination fees, as long as you provide proof of your departure and have been a customer for at least 3 months.
What is a RIO code and do I need it to cancel? Read more Close
A RIO code is your number portability code. You only need it if you want to keep your phone number when switching to a new operator. To get it, dial 3179 from your French mobile. If you're simply cancelling without switching, you don't need your RIO.
Will I be charged if I cancel after 12 months? Read more Close
From month 13 onwards, the loi Châtel caps early termination fees at 25% of the remaining monthly payments. Many no-contract plans have no fees at all.
What if my operator can't provide service properly? Read more Close
If you've experienced a prolonged service interruption or repeated failures, you may be entitled to cancel without fees - but you'll need to prove the operator's fault and have filed a complaint through the proper process first.