Templates · consumer contracts · cancelling
Cancel a Spanish contract with proof, from anywhere
For anyone who has left Spain, or is about to, and needs a Spanish phone, internet, gym or insurance contract to stop charging them.
In Spain you can cancel a phone or internet contract at any time by telling the operator at least two working days before you want it to end (Royal Decree 899/2009, art. 7). To stop an insurance policy renewing, you tell the insurer in writing at least one month before the current period ends (Insurance Contract Act, art. 22). If the company ignores you or keeps billing, a burofax proves what you asked for and the date they received it.
Phone and internet: Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, Digi
Each operator publishes its own way to cancel (darse de baja), usually by phone. From abroad that can be awkward: short numbers such as 1004 or 1470 may not work from a foreign phone, and a phone call leaves you nothing on paper. Writing to the company is another way in.
| Operator | How it says to cancel | Company and address it publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Movistar | Free number 1004, called by the account holder. Equipment goes back to a Movistar shop, or you ask for a home collection, within 15 calendar days. Source | Fijo: Telefónica de España, S.A.U., C/ Gran Vía 28, 28013 Madrid. Móvil: Telefónica Móviles España, S.A.U., Ronda de la Comunicación s/n, Distrito C, Edificio Sur 3, 2.ª planta, 28050 Madrid. Source |
| Vodafone | Its withdrawal page gives 22123 or 912 222 123 (option «Bajas», Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 21:00), or a form posted to Departamento de Bajas, Avenida de América 115, 28042 Madrid. We found no page for cancelling after the withdrawal period. Source | Vodafone España, S.A.U., Avenida de América 115, 28042 Madrid. Source |
| Orange | Free number 1470. You then get an email with a form, and attach a copy of the account holder’s ID. Source | Orange Espagne, S.A.U., Paseo del Club Deportivo 1, Parque Empresarial La Finca, Edificio 8, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Source |
| Digi | Website, email to atencionalcliente@digimobil.es, post, 1200 from a Digi line or 919 120 120, and its shops. It asks for two days’ notice. Source | DIGI Spain Telecom, S.A., Calle Francisca Delgado 11, planta 1.ª, 28108 Alcobendas (Madrid). Source |
Address the letter to the company named on your contract or latest bill. For Movistar, landline and mobile are separate companies, so check which one bills you.
The rules, in brief
- Telecoms: two working days. The contract ends when the customer tells the operator «con una antelación mínima de dos días hábiles», and the operator must not bill anything that accrues after that, unless the delay is the customer’s fault. Its cancellation procedure has to give you a record of your request (RD 899/2009, art. 7).
- Any consumer contract. You can end an ongoing contract «en la misma forma en que lo celebró», in the same way you entered it, without penalties or disproportionate charges, and the contract has to say how to cancel (TRLGDCU, art. 62.3 and 62.4, Spain’s main consumer protection act). It applies to ongoing service contracts such as gym memberships and subscriptions.
- Minimum terms. If you agreed one (permanencia), the early-exit charge has to be proportional to the days you don’t complete (art. 62.5).
- Insurance. Either side can stop the policy renewing by written notice: at least one month before the current period ends if you are the policyholder, two months if it’s the insurer (Ley 50/1980, art. 22). This applies to private health insurers such as Sanitas as much as to home or car cover.
Why the letter goes in Spanish
A cancellation that customer services can’t read tends to sit in a queue. Write it in Spanish, or Spanish first with your English version below, so the company and, if needed, a consumer body can read it. Each template below has an English gloss.
Template 1: cancelling phone or internet
It asks for written confirmation and tells the operator where to reach you abroad, including for returning equipment.
Asunto: Solicitud de baja del servicio
A la atención de [company name on your contract or bill]
Muy señores míos:
Soy titular del contrato con número de cliente [customer number], que incluye [services and line numbers, e.g. fibra, fijo 91X XXX XXX y móvil 6XX XXX XXX].
Les comunico mi voluntad de dar de baja [«todos los servicios del contrato» (all services) or «los servicios siguientes: …» (these services: …)] con efectos a los dos días hábiles de la recepción de este burofax, conforme al artículo 7 del Real Decreto 899/2009, de 22 de mayo. No solicito la portabilidad de ningún número.
[if you already called: Solicité esta baja por teléfono el (date), con número de referencia (number). / sin que se me facilitara número de referencia.]
He trasladado mi residencia a [country]. Les ruego que me confirmen la baja por escrito en [email] y que me indiquen allí cómo devolver los equipos que sean de su propiedad.
Desde la fecha en que deba surtir efecto la baja, no autorizo el cargo de nuevos recibos en mi cuenta.
Atentamente,
[full name, DNI, NIE or passport number, current address]
English gloss of this letter
Subject: Request to cancel the service
For the attention of [company name]
Dear Sirs,
I hold the contract with customer number [number], which includes [services and line numbers].
I hereby cancel [all services in the contract / the following services: …], effective two working days after you receive this burofax, under article 7 of Royal Decree 899/2009 of 22 May. I am not requesting to port any number.
[I requested this cancellation by phone on (date), reference number (number) / without being given a reference number.]
I have moved to [country]. Please confirm the cancellation in writing to [email] and tell me there how to return any equipment that belongs to you.
From the date the cancellation takes effect, I do not authorise any further charges to my account.
Yours faithfully, [name, ID number, current address]
Send this letter (the Spanish subject line is filled in; paste your text once you’ve adapted it).
Template 2: stopping an insurance policy from renewing
Under art. 22, the notice period is at least one month before the current period ends, counted back from the renewal date on the policy. The letter goes to the insurer named on the policy.
Asunto: Oposición a la prórroga de la póliza n.º [policy number]
Muy señores míos:
Soy tomador/a de la póliza n.º [policy number] de [«seguro de salud» (health), «hogar» (home), «automóvil» (car)…], cuyo periodo en curso termina el [renewal date].
Conforme al artículo 22 de la Ley 50/1980, de 8 de octubre, de Contrato de Seguro, les comunico mi oposición a la prórroga de la póliza, que quedará extinguida en esa fecha.
[if other people are covered: La baja afecta también a los asegurados siguientes: (names).]
Les ruego que no carguen ningún recibo posterior al [renewal date] y que me confirmen la baja por escrito en [email].
Atentamente,
[full name, ID number, current address]
English gloss of this letter
Subject: Notice of non-renewal of policy no. [number]
Dear Sirs,
I am the policyholder of [type] policy no. [number], whose current period ends on [date].
Under article 22 of the Insurance Contract Act (Law 50/1980 of 8 October), I give notice that I oppose the renewal of the policy, which will end on that date.
[The cancellation also covers the following insured persons: (names).]
Please do not charge any premium after [date] and confirm the cancellation in writing to [email].
Yours faithfully, [name, ID number, current address]
Send this letter (the Spanish subject line is filled in; paste your text once you’ve adapted it).
Template 3: gym or other membership
For gyms, clubs and similar subscriptions. It has a gap for the end date; your membership terms may set a notice period.
Asunto: Solicitud de baja como socio
Muy señores míos:
Soy socio/a de [gym or club name and branch address], con número de socio [membership number], desde el [date].
Les comunico mi baja con efectos el [end date]. Conforme al artículo 62.3 del texto refundido de la Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores y Usuarios, puedo poner fin al contrato sin sanciones ni cargas desproporcionadas.
Les ruego que dejen de cargar cuotas en mi cuenta a partir de esa fecha y que me confirmen la baja por escrito en [email].
Atentamente,
[full name, ID number]
English gloss of this letter
Subject: Membership cancellation
Dear Sirs,
I have been a member of [gym and branch], membership number [number], since [date].
I cancel my membership effective [date]. Under article 62.3 of the consolidated consumer protection act, I may end the contract without penalties or disproportionate charges.
Please stop charging fees to my account from that date and confirm the cancellation in writing to [email].
Yours faithfully, [name, ID number]
Send this letter (the Spanish subject line is filled in; paste your text once you’ve adapted it).
What to attach, and what to keep
- A copy of the account holder’s ID if the company asks for one (Orange does, on the page linked above).
- The contract, policy or latest bill, showing your customer, policy or membership number.
- The reference number of any call, with the date.
- Bank statements showing charges after the date the cancellation should have taken effect.
- The courier or post receipt if you return equipment.
What usually happens next
- The company confirms the cancellation in writing.
- You get a retention offer. The burofax still records the date you asked to cancel.
- Nothing changes and the charges continue. For telecoms, individuals, including the self-employed, and micro-businesses are entitled to a free out-of-court complaints procedure against operators (Law 11/2022, art. 78), and the burofax is a document you can include.
Sending it with proof
The two working days for telecoms run from when the operator receives your request, and the insurance month is counted back from the renewal date. The proof of delivery gives you that date; the certified content shows what you asked for.
Through us, a Correos burofax with proof of delivery (acuse de recibo) and certified content (certificación de contenido) costs €49.90 for up to 3 pages. A certified notification from Notificados costs €29.90. Notificados is a trusted third party, and that option is not a Correos burofax. You see the exact PDF before you pay, nothing is sent or charged until you approve it, and if we can’t send it you get a full refund.
The templates and legal references on this page are general information, not an assessment of your case. We are a sending service, not a law firm, and we don’t check whether a letter is enough for what you want to achieve. You decide what to write and what to ask for. A legal professional can assess your case.