Cancel · Specific to: France
France: cancelling a contract that renewed automatically
France module. A contract renewed itself without the required notice being received. This letter invokes the code de la consommation and asks for cancellation at no charge.
This page gives the shape of a letter, the words that fit and the public references attached to it. It does not tell you what to do about a particular case, and it does not replace the opinion of a qualified professional. The blanks marked in the letter are for you to fill in.
When this letter fits
- A fixed-term service contract, taken out in France by a private individual, contains an automatic renewal clause.
- The contract renewed itself and the notice announcing the option not to renew was not received within the window provided for.
- The organisation relies on a past anniversary date to refuse the cancellation.
When it does not fit
- The contract has no automatic renewal clause: ordinary cancellation is enough, and the universal template fits better.
- The notice was received in good time: the contract applies, and the letter to write is an ordinary cancellation at the next term.
- The contract falls under a special regime, in particular insurance, mutual health cover or social security: those contracts follow their own codes, and the articles cited here do not govern them.
The letter, in full
The passages that are marked are the blanks to fill in. Paragraphs carrying a condition are written only in the case stated: the workshop does that sorting, or you do it by hand.
your town, the date
Subject: Cancellation of contract concerned, automatically renewed
Reference: your file number
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am cancelling contract concerned, taken out on date you took it out and renewed on renewal date.
If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I never received it”Article L. 215-1 of the code de la consommation (the French consumer code) requires the trader to inform the consumer, in writing and no earlier than three months and no later than one month before the end of the period allowing renewal to be refused, of the option not to renew the contract. That notice was never sent to me.
If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I received it after the deadline for refusing renewal”Article L. 215-1 of the code de la consommation (the French consumer code) requires the trader to inform the consumer, in writing and no earlier than three months and no later than one month before the end of the period allowing renewal to be refused, of the option not to renew the contract. The notice only reached me on date the notice arrived, that is, outside that period.
If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I never received it”The same article provides that, where notice has not been given on those terms, the consumer may bring the contract to an end free of charge, at any time from the renewal date. That is what I am doing by this letter.
If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I received it after the deadline for refusing renewal”The same article provides that, where notice has not been given on those terms, the consumer may bring the contract to an end free of charge, at any time from the renewal date. That is what I am doing by this letter.
If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I did receive it in good time”I am asking you to give effect to this cancellation on the date this letter is received, and to confirm that to me in writing.
I am asking you to confirm to me in writing the end date of the contract, to send me a final statement, and to close the account.
If “Is payment made by direct debit” is “Yes”As payment is made by direct debit, I am asking you to stop the debits and to refund the sums taken since the renewal date.
Finally, I would remind you that article L. 215-1-1 of the same code requires a free facility to be made available to the consumer for carrying out cancellation electronically, where the contract was concluded that way or where you offer the possibility of contracting that way.
This letter is being sent with proof of posting retained: that proof is what dates the cancellation.
Yours faithfully,
your first name and surname
Enclosures
- A copy of the contract, if you have it.
- A copy of the latest invoice, which carries the customer reference and the period billed.
- Copies of the statements showing the debits taken after the renewal.
The questions to answer
- The contract concerned
What it is and its number, as they appear on an invoice.
Example: subscription no. 4471-C to the monitoring service - The date you took it out
- The renewal date
The date the contract renewed itself, or the anniversary date the organisation is relying on against you. - The notice about the option not to renew
- I never received it: The case the text covers: cancellation then becomes possible at no charge at any time from the renewal date.
- I received it after the deadline for refusing renewal: Notice given out of time does not satisfy the obligation. Give the date you received it.
- I did receive it in good time: The basis of this letter does not apply. The universal cancellation template is the one to use.
- The date the notice arrived If “The notice about the option not to renew” is “I received it after the deadline for refusing renewal”
- Is payment made by direct debit
- Yes: The letter will ask for the debits to stop and for the sums taken since the renewal to be refunded.
- No: Nothing to ask for on that side.
What to ask for, precisely
- The end date confirmed in writing, and the account closed.
- A refund of the sums taken since the renewal, where cancellation is asked for at no charge from that date.
- The final statement, line by line.
- Proof that the notice was sent, if the organisation maintains that it sent it: the burden is on them, and a screenshot of an online account is not proof of sending.
The documents to attach
- A copy of the contract, if you have it.
- A copy of the latest invoice, which carries the customer reference and the period billed.
- Copies of the statements showing the debits taken after the renewal.
The deadline
The end date asked for is the date the letter is received, not the end of a notice period: that is what the text allows where notice was not given. Allow two weeks for the written confirmation, and watch the debits in the meantime.
After sending
- Keep the letter, the proof of posting and the statements: those are the three items in the file if the billing continues.
- Check on your bank statement that the debits stop.
- If the organisation refuses, maintaining that it sent the notice, ask for proof of that in writing before taking any other step.
- If billing carries on despite the confirmation, the next step is a challenge to an amount, resting on that confirmation.
The legal grounds
- Code de la consommation, article L. 215-1
Pour les contrats de prestations de services conclus pour une durée déterminée avec une clause de reconduction tacite, le professionnel informe le consommateur par écrit, au plus tôt trois mois et au plus tard un mois avant le terme de la période autorisant le rejet de la reconduction, de la possibilité de ne pas reconduire le contrat. À défaut, le consommateur peut mettre gratuitement un terme au contrat, à tout moment à compter de la date de reconduction.
in plain words: The trader must tell you in writing, between three months and one month before the cut-off date, that you may decline the renewal. If they did not, you can end the contract whenever you like, free of charge.
checked on August 24, 2026 - Code de la consommation, article L. 215-1-1
Le professionnel met à la disposition du consommateur une fonctionnalité gratuite permettant d’accomplir, par voie électronique, la notification et les démarches nécessaires à la résiliation du contrat.
in plain words: The trader must give you a free way to cancel electronically. You are not obliged to send a letter or make a phone call.
checked on August 24, 2026 - Code de la consommation, article L. 215-5
Les contrats d’assurance, de mutuelle et de sécurité sociale relèvent de leurs propres codes : ces contrats ne sont pas régis par les articles cités ci-dessus.
in plain words: These rules do not cover insurance, mutual health cover or social security. Those contracts end under their own texts.
checked on August 24, 2026