Cancel & dispute
How do I send a written cancellation for a contract or subscription?
Updated · By the SendMyLettersOnline team
Find the contract's cancellation or notices clause, write a letter with your name, account or contract number and the effective date, and mail it to the address that clause names before the notice deadline, by Certified Mail with a return receipt. When a contract says notice must be "in writing" or "by mail", a phone call or chat may not count, and the return receipt proves the date it was received.
| Clause | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Term and renewal | When the contract renews and how far in advance you must cancel |
| Cancellation / termination | Whether you can cancel and any fee |
| Notices | The address and method (mail, certified mail, email) that count |
| Cooling-off or rescission | A short window to cancel after signing, if any |
Write a letter that can't be misread
The cancel subscription or contract template is ready to fill in.
- One sentence saying you are cancelling, with the effective date.
- Account, contract or member number and the name on the account.
- A request to stop all charges and confirm cancellation in writing.
- Your signature and current address.
When a service won't let you cancel online
Mail the cancellation to the notices address in the terms of service, keep the receipts, and if charges continue, dispute them with your card issuer using your proof. The FTC has a sample letter for disputing charges. Some states have automatic renewal laws; your state consumer protection office can explain them.
For sales made at your home or a seller's temporary location, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule may give you three days to cancel; it doesn't cover every kind of sale. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a specific dispute, a legal aid office or a licensed attorney in your state can tell you what applies.
Quick answers
How to send a cancellation letter that requires written notice?
Mail a signed letter to the address in the notices clause and keep proof of mailing and delivery. Certified Mail with return receipt gives you both.
How to send a letter to cancel a subscription that won't let me cancel online?
Send a written cancellation to the company's notices or mailing address from its terms, by certified mail, and dispute later charges with your card issuer if needed.
How to send a written cancellation for a contract?
Identify the account, state the effective date, sign it, and send it the way the contract requires, before the deadline.
Does a cancellation letter need a return receipt?
Not usually by law, but it's the only proof of when it was received. See does a cancellation letter need a return receipt.
What to do next
Open the cancellation template, add your account number, and we'll print and mail it Certified with return receipt.
Send a cancellation letterSources
- FTC: Buyer's remorse: the Cooling-Off Rule
- FTC: Sample letter for disputing credit and debit card charges
- USA.gov: State consumer protection offices
- USPS: Insurance & Extra Services
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.