Technology · Canada
Your Phone Contract Is Ending in Canada: Review, Negotiate or Switch
When a phone contract ends in Canada, it is the best moment to cut your bill. Under the CRTC Wireless Code, contracts run at most two years and any device balance is paid off by 24 months, so you can switch without a cancellation fee once the term is over. Review your real data use, compare current plans, then ask your carrier for a better rate or switch and keep your number. If you do nothing, service usually continues month to month, often at a price above what new customers pay.
Key takeaways
- Check the contract end date and that the device balance is $0.
- Look at 3 months of real data use, calls and roaming.
- Compare current plans from your carrier, lower-cost brands and prepaid.
- Ask your carrier for a better plan; have a competing offer ready.
- Switching: the new provider ports your number. Do not cancel the old service first.
What the Wireless Code says
- Contracts can be no longer than two years.
- Device subsidies or financing must be paid down within 24 months, so after 24 months there is no device balance to pay off.
- Phones sold since 1 December 2017 are unlocked; older phones can be unlocked free.
- Month-to-month service after a term can have its terms changed with notice.
The CRTC adopted rules in April 2026 requiring providers to notify customers before a fixed-term contract or a longer promotional discount ends. They are not yet in force as of 1 Oct 2026, so set your own reminder.
Your three options
| Option | What to do | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Review and downgrade | Move to a plan that matches real use | Your carrier has a cheaper fitting plan |
| Negotiate | Call or chat; ask for current pricing; mention a competing offer | You like the network and want to stay |
| Switch | Sign up with a new provider and port your number | Another provider is clearly cheaper for the same use |
How to negotiate
- Find two or three current plans that fit your use, with prices.
- Contact your carrier and ask what plans are available to you now.
- Ask whether the price is permanent or promotional, and for how long.
- If needed, ask for the retention or loyalty team.
- Get the new plan confirmed in writing.
Step by step: a 30-minute contract review
- Find your contract end date and device balance in your carrier's app or on your bill. If the balance is above $0, note the payoff amount.
- Look at three months of usage: data, calls, texts, and any roaming or long-distance charges. Note your highest month.
- Check whether your current price includes a promotional credit that ends with the contract.
- List three alternatives that fit your use: a cheaper plan from your carrier, a lower-cost brand on a network that covers where you live and travel, and a prepaid plan.
- Write down each option's monthly price with tax and anything it lacks (roaming options, 5G, hotspot).
- Contact your carrier with those numbers. If the offer is not close, switch.
What to say when you call
Keep it short and factual. Say that your contract is ending, describe how you use your phone, and ask what plans are available to you now. If the price is higher than an alternative you found, name the alternative and its price and ask whether they can match or come close. Ask how long any new price lasts and whether signing a new term is required. If you agree, ask for a written summary of the new plan; the Wireless Code requires providers to give you a permanent copy of your contract and a critical information summary.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the price permanent or promotional? | Promotional credits can end after a set number of months |
| Does it require a new term or device financing? | A financed phone ties you to the account for its balance |
| What is included: data, roaming, hotspot, 5G? | A cheaper plan may remove something you use |
| What is the total with tax? | Tax varies by province |
| When will the change appear on my bill? | So you can confirm it |
Month to month after the term
If you do nothing, you usually continue month to month on your existing plan. Under the Wireless Code, for a month-to-month (indeterminate) contract, the provider can change terms with at least 30 days' notice. Watch for notices of price changes on your bill or by email. Month-to-month also means you can leave at any time without an early cancellation fee, which gives you leverage.
Common mistakes
- Upgrading the phone on impulse when the contract ends, which starts a new device balance.
- Accepting a retention offer without asking how long it lasts.
- Cancelling the old service before porting the number to a new provider.
- Comparing plans without tax or without the features you use, such as Canada-US roaming.
- Forgetting other lines or devices on the account, such as a tablet or watch, that keep billing.
Example with made-up inputs: a year after the contract
These numbers are an example with made-up inputs, not current prices.
| Choice | Monthly | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Do nothing | $75 | $900 |
| Negotiated plan | $55 | $660 |
| Switch to another brand | $40 | $480 |
Sources
- CRTC, The Wireless Code, as of 1 Oct 2026. Two-year maximum contracts; device balance paid down within 24 months; unlocking.
- CRTC, Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-67, as of 1 Oct 2026. Customer notification before fixed-term contracts and promotional discounts end; adopted April 2026, not yet in force.
- CRTC, The Wireless Code, as of 1 Oct 2026. Permanent copy of the contract and critical information summary; changes to indeterminate contracts with at least 30 days' notice.
- The prices in the example table and chart are made-up inputs.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when my phone contract ends in Canada?
Service usually continues month to month. With the device balance paid off by 24 months, you can change plans or switch providers without a cancellation fee.
Can I keep my number if I switch?
Yes. Sign up with the new provider and ask it to port your number. Do not cancel your old service first.
Will my carrier lower my price if I ask?
Sometimes. Ask what current plans are available to you, and mention a competing offer. Get any new plan in writing.
How long can a phone contract be in Canada?
Under the CRTC Wireless Code, at most two years.
Will my carrier warn me before my contract ends?
The CRTC adopted rules in April 2026 requiring advance notice, but they are not yet in force as of 1 Oct 2026. Set your own reminder.
Can my carrier change my price after my contract ends?
For month-to-month service, the Wireless Code allows a provider to change terms with at least 30 days' notice. You can also leave at any time without an early cancellation fee.
Should I get a new phone when my contract ends?
Only if you need one. Keeping your phone and moving to a cheaper plan usually saves the most; a new financed phone starts a new device balance.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and fact-checked against official Canadian sources. How we create content.
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