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Cancel guide · Updated April 28, 2026

How to cancel CenturyLink

CenturyLink residential service must be canceled by phone, there is no online cancel form. The footprint is split between CenturyLink (legacy Lumen-owned states) and Brightspeed (the 2022-2023 Apollo carve-out covering 20 states), so the very first thing to verify is which company actually bills you, the cancellation phone number is different. CenturyLink's pricing-for-life policy means most accounts are no-contract with no ETF, the call is shorter than Xfinity or Frontier but the retention pitch leans heavily on 'you'll lose your locked rate forever.'

Cancel CenturyLink, direct line

1-800-244-1111Call now

CenturyLink does not offer a fully-online cancel flow, phone is the only reliable path.

Policies change frequently. Verify current terms at the time of cancellation. Prices, ETFs, return windows, and cancel numbers can shift, always confirm with the provider on the call before accepting any offer.

Step-by-step: cancel CenturyLink

  1. Confirm whether you're a CenturyLink or Brightspeed customer

    Apollo Global Management bought CenturyLink's ILEC operations in 20 states in 2022 and rebranded as Brightspeed. If you live in NC, SC, VA, OH, IN, MI, PA, NJ, AL, GA, KY, TN, MO, KS, AR, OK, MS, LA, FL panhandle, or WI, you are likely on Brightspeed even if your old emails still say CenturyLink. Check your most recent bill's letterhead. If it says Brightspeed, the cancel number is different (call Brightspeed at 1-833-692-7773).

  2. Pull your account number and last bill

    CenturyLink account numbers are 12-15 digit strings on the bill. You'll also want the last 4 of the account holder's SSN, CenturyLink retention agents verify both. If you're on Lifeline or another assistance program, have that documented; canceling Lifeline routes through a different team.

  3. Call 1-800-244-1111 and select 'cancel service'

    The IVR routes cancel requests to the Loyalty team. Avoid the 'tech support' or 'billing' branches, they cannot close accounts. CenturyLink's hold times are shortest 8-10am Mountain Time (Lumen HQ), and longest after 4pm.

  4. Decline 'Price for Life' framing if you're committed to leaving

    CenturyLink's signature retention pitch is 'you'll lose your $50 Price for Life rate forever, this rate isn't offered to new customers.' This is technically true for the legacy fiber and DSL Price for Life plans (closed to new signups in 2023). If you're moving to a faster competitor, the locked-rate loss is not a real concern; if you might come back, weigh it.

  5. Reject contract upsells

    Some retention agents will offer a deeper discount conditional on a 12-month term commitment. CenturyLink's standard residential plans are no-contract, do not let the agent re-arm an ETF clock as part of a save offer unless you genuinely want a multi-year price lock.

  6. Confirm disconnect date and request email confirmation

    CenturyLink prorates final bills for residential internet as of 2026 in most markets. Get the disconnect date, final-bill estimate, and confirmation number in writing. CenturyLink's email confirmations have historically been inconsistent, ask the agent to send while you're on the call and verify it lands.

  7. Return the modem/router within 30 days

    If you rented the CenturyLink modem (typically a C3000A, C4000XG, or Calix-supplied gateway for fiber), return it via the prepaid UPS label CenturyLink emails. If you bought your own modem, no return is needed, but confirm the agent has not flagged it as rented in error. Drop at any UPS Store. Keep the tracking receipt.

  8. Watch the next two bills for closeout charges

    CenturyLink final billing has been the subject of an FCC complaint history, expect to verify carefully. Common errors: charging a full month after disconnect, billing for an unreturned modem you actually returned, and not closing TV programming if you bundled DirecTV via CenturyLink.

What retention will offer, and how to evaluate it

Here's what to expect when the CenturyLink retention team pitches you, and how to tell a real offer from a distraction.

  • Reinstating or extending your existing 'Price for Life' rate, framed as 'we can keep your locked price' if you stay, real value only if your locked rate is meaningfully below current market.
  • A speed-tier upgrade from CenturyLink Fiber 500 to 940 (or 940 to Fiber Gig) at the same monthly price, useful only if your address actually has the higher tier provisioned.
  • Waiving the modem rental fee ($15/month) for 12 months, $180/year savings, and one of the easier asks to win even outside a cancel call.
  • A bundling pitch with DirecTV via Stream, CenturyLink retention will offer a TV bundle credit, but DirecTV billing then becomes its own cancellation problem if you ever leave.
  • A free upgrade to the newer Calix or eero-based gateway, marginally faster Wi-Fi, no real billing impact.

Early termination fee and equipment return

Early termination fee

CenturyLink residential internet, including all current and most legacy plans, is no-contract month-to-month with no early termination fee. The 'Price for Life' brand was a price-lock guarantee, not a contract, you can cancel any time without penalty even on Price for Life plans. The exception: if you bundled DirecTV through CenturyLink, the DirecTV portion may carry a 24-month commitment with its own ETF (typically $20 per remaining month). CenturyLink Small Business plans sometimes have term agreements, residential does not.

Equipment return

Return any CenturyLink-rented modem or router: C3000A, C3000Z, C4000XG, Greenwave C4000-series, or Calix GigaSpire BLAST for fiber accounts. Include the power adapter and any included Ethernet cables. Customer-owned modems (you bought it outright) do not need to be returned, confirm the cancel agent has it flagged correctly. CenturyLink emails a prepaid UPS label within 1-3 business days. Drop at any UPS Store; original packaging is not required. Unreturned-modem fee: $200. Keep the tracking number until the final bill clears.

Deadline: 30 days after disconnect

Timing tips

  • Cancel after the billing cycle's mid-point, CenturyLink prorates internet, but final-bill processing for cycle-edge cancels has produced timing errors in the past.
  • If you're on Price for Life and might return to a CenturyLink-served address within 12 months, the rate is gone permanently once you cancel. New signup at the same address re-prices at current market.
  • Tuesday-Thursday 9-11am Mountain Time has the shortest holds. Avoid Mondays and end-of-month for the lowest queue times.
  • If you have a CenturyLink-bundled DirecTV account, plan to call DirecTV separately, the cancel rep cannot close the DirecTV portion. Doing both in one day prevents one bill orphaning the other.
  • Don't cancel mid-installation-window if you're switching to fiber from another provider. Have the new ISP installed and confirmed working before you call CenturyLink, reactivation within 30 days reuses the existing line and skips a truck roll.

Frequently asked questions

Wait, am I on CenturyLink or Brightspeed?
Apollo bought CenturyLink's ILEC operations in 20 states in 2022 and rebranded as Brightspeed. Check the letterhead on your most recent bill, if it says Brightspeed, you cancel via Brightspeed (1-833-692-7773), not the CenturyLink number. The transition has caused billing confusion; the bill is the source of truth.
Does CenturyLink have an early termination fee?
No on residential internet. All CenturyLink residential plans, including Price for Life, are no-contract with no ETF. Bundled DirecTV TV service (sold through CenturyLink) carries its own 24-month commitment that may have an ETF.
Can I cancel CenturyLink online?
No. CenturyLink requires a phone call to 1-800-244-1111. Online account tools can change plans or programming but cannot close the account. Chat agents can sometimes initiate cancellation but escalate to phone.
Will my Price for Life rate come back if I rejoin later?
No. Price for Life signups closed in 2023. If you cancel and resubscribe at the same address, you'll re-price at current market, typically higher than legacy Price for Life rates. Factor this in if you might return.
Does CenturyLink prorate the final bill?
Yes, CenturyLink prorates residential internet on the final bill in most markets as of 2026. Verify against the email confirmation, final-bill processing has been historically inconsistent.
What about my centurylink.net or qwest.net email?
CenturyLink's hosted email is operated through a third party and typically remains accessible for 60-90 days after cancel. Long-term, CenturyLink has been deprecating hosted email; export and forward your mail before cancellation.
What's the unreturned-modem fee?
$200 for most CenturyLink modem/gateway models. Keep your UPS return tracking number and the drop-off receipt for at least 90 days, the equipment-return logging system has been the subject of repeated billing disputes.
Can I cancel if I'm on a Lifeline or Connect America plan?
Yes, but the cancel routes through a separate Lifeline support queue. Mention 'Lifeline' or your assistance program at the start of the call to be routed correctly. Disconnecting Lifeline means a separate enrollment process if you re-qualify later.

Thinking of switching instead?

Before you cancel, it's usually worth checking what else is available at your address.