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How to cancel your phone plan

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Is your phone plan just not doing it for you? Canstar Blue is here to run through the process of cancelling your phone, and what you need to know before doing so.

Compare SIM-only phone plans

If you’re looking for a new phone plan, there are plenty of plans and providers to choose from. Below is our selection of SIM-only phone plans, simply switch between the tabs for prepaid and postpaid plans.

The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.

How do I cancel my phone plan?

There are a multitude of ways to cancel your phone plan, depending on the provider you’re with.

Cancelling your phone plan via phone

Almost all Australian telcos have customer service numbers that you can contact, which will put you through to a representative that can cancel your phone plan. You’ll find that live customer service is generally available during business hours, but may be limited on weekends or public holidays; if you’re planning to call outside of Monday to Friday, check your provider’s call centre hours in advance.

Cancelling your phone plan via your provider’s app

Some providers make it slightly easier to end your phone plan by making it a click-through process.. The steps required for each provider will differ, so be sure to head to your telco’s web or mobile app for more information.

Cancelling your phone plan via live chat

Many providers will have an online live chat system through the website or app, in which you can chat to a representative of the telco to sort out your issue. 

The outcome may either be the representative giving you the steps to manually cancel your phone plan, or the representative physically cancelling the service on their end.

How to cancel your Optus plan

You can cancel your Optus phone plan in any Optus store, or by contacting the telco on 13 39 37.

How to cancel your Telstra plan

You can cancel your Telstra phone plan in any Telstra store, or by contacting the telco on 13 22 00.

How to cancel your Vodafone plan

You can cancel your Vodafone phone plan in any Vodafone store, or by contacting the telco on 1300 650 410 or (1555 from your Vodafone device).

If your provider isn’t listed, be sure to head to the website of the telco to find their customer service support number.

Does cancelling my phone plan cost money?

The costs incurred by cancelling your phone plan depend on various factors within your plan. For example, if you have purchased a phone-on-a-plan bundle, you will need to pay for any outstanding costs associated with the plan, typically for the handset. This is known as an ‘early termination charge’ or ‘early termination fee’ by some telcos, including Telstra.

In other instances, you may be charged for transferring your number. Vodafone charges $8 for customers to transfer their number over to another provider, however other companies may do this for free, or an even more expensive fee.

Customers on a month-to-month phone plan or prepaid plan will have more freedom in cancelling, and usually won’t incur a fee for doing so, although you may need to pay a final phone bill or other outstanding costs.

Generally, the earlier you cancel your plan’s contract, the more expensive it will be. If you’re someone who is prone to cancelling your contracts, it may be more prudent to look into a no contract phone plan.

Is cancelling my phone plan worth it?

Cancelling your phone plan is very much dependent on your situation. If the cost of outstanding device payments, unused months of your contract, or keeping your number doesn’t seem worth it in the long run, cancelling your mobile plan may be the best option for you.

Emma Bradstock
Telco Specialist
Emma Bradstock has been an authority on consumer phone, internet, technology and streaming markets in Australia for the last 5 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University and has a decade of professional writing experience in print and digital media.

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