Does Verizon Fios Charge an Early Termination Fee?
Current Fios plans are contract-free — no ETF applies for standard cancellation. Older 2-year agreement plans (increasingly rare) may still carry a prorated fee; check My Fios app under Account > Plan Details to confirm your specific agreement status.
Step-by-Step Cancellation
- Confirm your agreement status in the app before calling.
- Call to cancel — Verizon requires a phone call or in-person visit for full cancellation, not app/chat alone.
- Expect a retention offer — decline clearly if you've already decided.
- Get written confirmation of your final service date.
- Return the router within 30 days via prepaid UPS shipping label (mailed automatically after cancellation) or an authorized UPS Store.
Avoiding the Unreturned Equipment Fee
Even though the Fios Router is included at no rental charge, it remains Verizon property. Missing the 30-day return window triggers an unreturned equipment fee — typically $150-200 for the router, more if a mesh extender is also unreturned. Keep the UPS tracking confirmation until your final statement confirms the return.
Timing Your Cancellation
Fios bills in advance like most ISPs. Schedule cancellation as close as possible to your billing renewal date to avoid paying for a period of service you won't use.
Porting Your Phone Number if Bundled
If Fios Digital Voice is bundled with your internet, port the phone number to a new carrier before finalizing cancellation — once the account closes, the number can be lost, and porting takes several business days to complete with another provider.
Moving Instead of Cancelling
If you're relocating within a Fios service area rather than leaving Verizon entirely, a transfer of service avoids re-triggering equipment return deadlines and usually keeps your Price for Life rate intact — cancelling and re-signing up at the new address forfeits the original locked-in price.
Legacy Multi-Year Contracts
Accounts still on an older 2-year agreement (largely phased out but not fully eliminated for long-tenured customers) should check the prorated ETF amount in the My Fios app before calling — this is typically calculated as a fraction of a flat fee based on months remaining, and confirming the exact number in advance avoids being surprised by whatever the phone rep quotes.
Documenting Your Cancellation
Save the confirmation email or text, plus a screenshot of the account status showing "cancelled" with the final service date — this is the primary evidence if a dispute arises over a bill after the account should have closed, which is one of the more common post-cancellation complaints across most major ISPs, not unique to Verizon.
Switching to a Different Verizon Product
If you're leaving Fios specifically because of availability at a new address rather than dissatisfaction, ask whether Verizon 5G Home Internet is available there — it's a different product with different performance characteristics, but staying within Verizon's ecosystem sometimes preserves loyalty pricing or bundle discounts that a full account closure would forfeit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel through the My Fios app alone?
No — as noted, Verizon requires a phone call or in-person visit to fully process a cancellation; the app is useful for checking contract status beforehand but doesn't complete the cancellation itself.
What happens to my email address if I had a Verizon.net account?
Legacy Verizon.net email addresses tied to an account may be affected by cancellation — confirm current policy with support if you rely on that address, since handling has changed over time and isn't guaranteed to remain active indefinitely after service ends.
Is there a difference between "pausing" and cancelling service?
Some accounts qualify for a temporary seasonal-suspend option (useful for a second home) rather than a full cancellation — worth asking about specifically if you plan to return within a few months rather than leaving permanently.
Summary Checklist
- Confirm agreement status in the app before calling.
- Call or visit in person — chat/app alone won't complete cancellation.
- Get written confirmation of the final service date.
- Return the router within 30 days using the prepaid UPS label.
A Note on Retention Offers
Verizon's retention team is generally authorized to offer a limited-time discount or bill credit rather than a permanent rate change — similar to AT&T's process described elsewhere in this series, understanding this in advance helps set realistic expectations for the call.
Following each step in order, rather than skipping straight to the phone call, is what keeps the process free of unexpected fees on the final bill.