Can a contract for the provision of tacit services be terminated?

Verified 20 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you have a tacit renewal service contract and would like to terminate it, you should be aware that termination is possible on the anniversary date of the conclusion of the contract. The service provider must inform you before the renewal of the possibility to exercise your right of termination. If it does not, you can terminate at any time by registered letter. We present you the information to know.

Warning  

Certain contracts tacit renewal shall be subject to specific rules. These are the insurance contracts, mutual or provident societies, and service subscription contracts telephony or internet.

A tacit renewal contract is a contract which automatically renews when it expires if neither party requests its termination. The renewal is done for the same period and under the same conditions as those laid down at the time of signature.

This type of contract is common for everyday services. For example, a gym or newspaper subscription.

Example :

A person subscribes to the 1er April 2025 an annual gym membership. If it does not request termination, the contract is automatically renewed on 1er April 2026 for a new year.

The anniversary date is the date on which the contract was signed or concluded. It is this date that marks the automatic contract renewal if no termination is requested.

The termination deadline corresponds to last day to inform the provider your wish not to renew the contract. This date takes into account the notice provided for in the contract, which is a period before the anniversary date on which you must submit your application.

Example :

You have signed an annual subscription to a service on March 31, 2025, with a 3 months notice to terminate.

  • The anniversary date is the March 31, 2026. This is when the contract automatically renews for one year if you do not cancel.
  • The termination deadline is the December 31, 2025. You must send your cancelation request by that date at the latest, or 3 months before the anniversary date, so that the contract is not renewed.

If you send the request on 1er January 2026, the service provider may consider the contract as automatically renewed for a new year.

The anniversary date marks the effective renewal, while the termination deadline is the last moment to act to avoid this renewal.

A tacit renewal service contract may be terminated for one of the following reasons:

  • Termination for opposition to the non-renewal of the contract
  • Termination for lack of information on the right to terminate
  • Termination for another reason.

Termination for opposition to the non-renewal of the contract

Each year, the service provider must inform you in writing (letter or email) of your right to request the non-renewal of the contract.

This information must be communicated to you at the earliest 3 months and at the latest 1 month before the end of the deadline to request the non-renewal of the contract.

Information must be provided in clear and understandable terms. It must indicate, in an apparent box included in the letter or email, the deadline for requesting the non-renewal of the contract.

Warning  

For distance financial services contracts, the information requirements shall apply only in the first year. After 1er renewal, the contract is automatically renewed if no party requests the termination.

Termination for lack of information on the right to terminate

If the service provider has not informed you of your right to terminate the contract within the time limit, you can terminate the contract immediately and free of charge by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt.

In this case, the service provider must reimburse you the amounts paid for the period from the date of termination to the next automatic renewal date. The refund must be made within 30 days.

In case of non-reimbursement within the deadline, the amounts due are increased by legal interest rate.

Example :

If your contract is renewed every 15th of the month and you have requested termination on the 1ster of the month, your provider must reimburse you for the period from 1er at 15.

Termination for another reason

You can also request the immediate termination of your contract for a reason provided for in the contract (moving, unemployment...) or in case of poor performance by the provider.

Example :

A person signs a contract with a marriage agency. The main purpose of the contract is to meet 3 singles who meet the majority of its criteria over a year. After 1 year, when the person paid for the benefit, the agency did not introduce anyone to him.

Some contracts provide for a minimum period of employment. If you have signed such a contract, penalties may be added to the price of the service if you do not respect the commitment period.

You can terminate your contract in 3 clicks if it has been signed with one of the following providers:

  • Telephone or internet operator
  • Supplier of electricity or gas
  • Transport companies
  • Online newspaper and media editor
  • Dating sites
  • Gym
  • Editor of IT services.

Contracts that can be concluded online with insurance, pension funds and mutual insurance companies are also affected by the 3-click cancelation.

For other contracts, the termination is made at the time of renewal within a period set by the contract or take place for fault of the provider.

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Terminate in 3 clicks

You must follow the following 3 steps:

  1. Click on a link entitled “Terminate your contract”
  2. Provide the following information:
    • First and last name (or company name and company name for a legal person) 
    • Means of contact (telephone number, email...) allowing the insurer to confirm the receipt of your request termination
    • Reference or number of your contract
    • Reason for termination 
    • Date of the event giving rise to termination.
  3. Click on a link titled “Confirm your termination”.

Termination on renewal

You do not need to give a reason for termination, but you must send the termination request to the provider within a time limit set by the contract.

You must use the information provided in the contract to inform the provider of your decision (registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, email,...).

Termination for fault of the service provider

You must specify the reason for requesting termination outside the time limit set by the contract.

Example :

  • Lack of information on the right of termination
  • Reason for termination provided for in the contract (move, unemployment...)
  • Failure or improper performance of the contract by the service provider

You must use the information provided in the contract to inform the service provider of your decision (registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, email etc...).

If the trader refuses to terminate your contract even though you have complied with the conditions laid down, you can follow the following steps:

  1. Send a written complaint to the professional
  2. In case of failure, enter a mediator of consumption
  3. In case of failure, bring an action before the competent court.

If you request the termination of the contract within the stipulated period, your contract will terminate on the anniversary date of the contract or on the date on which the contract should have been renewed automatically

You will no longer be able to benefit from the service from this date. You must pay the provider the amounts due up to the end date of your contract, regardless of the date on which you requested the termination.

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