Cancelling a subscription

The situation

You: You want to cancel your gym membership. They'll try to retain you. Stay firm and polite.

Them: A retention agent at the gym.

Goal: Cancel the membership cleanly without losing your temper or your money.

The conversation (French & English)

Bonjour, comment puis-je vous aider ?
Hello, how can I help you?

Bonjour. Je voudrais annuler mon abonnement, s'il vous plaît.
Hello. I'd like to cancel my membership, please.

D'accord. Puis-je vous demander la raison ?
OK. May I ask the reason?

Je déménage dans une autre ville.
I'm moving to another city.

Je comprends. Saviez-vous que nous avons des succursales partout au Québec ?
I understand. Did you know we have branches all over Quebec?

Merci, mais j'ai décidé d'annuler. Quelle est la procédure ?
Thank you, but I've decided to cancel. What's the procedure?

D'accord. J'ai besoin de votre numéro de membre et la date de votre dernier paiement.
OK. I need your member number and the date of your last payment.

Le numéro est 78902. Le dernier paiement était le quinze du mois.
The number is 78902. The last payment was on the fifteenth of the month.

Parfait. Votre annulation prend effet immédiatement.
Perfect. Your cancellation takes effect immediately.

Merci pour votre aide.
Thank you for your help.

Key vocabulary

annuler	to cancel
un abonnement	a subscription / membership
la raison	the reason
déménager	to move (residence)
une succursale	a branch / location
j'ai décidé	I have decided
la procédure	the procedure
un numéro de membre	a member number
prend effet	takes effect
immédiatement	immediately

Grammar in this conversation — Staying firm: "merci, mais j'ai décidé"

When someone tries to retain you, the polite-but-firm formula is: merci (acknowledge their effort) + mais (pivot) + j'ai décidé (use passé composé to signal the decision is FINAL). This pattern shuts down further negotiation gracefully.

• Merci, mais j'ai décidé d'annuler.
• Merci de votre offre, mais non, merci.
• Je comprends, mais ma décision est prise.

Phrases to practise aloud

Bonjour, je voudrais annuler mon abonnement. — Hello, I'd like to cancel my membership.

Je déménage dans une autre ville. — I'm moving to another city.

Merci, mais j'ai décidé d'annuler. — Thank you, but I've decided to cancel.

Quelle est la procédure ? — What is the procedure?

Merci pour votre aide. — Thank you for your help.

Check your understanding

1. What does the customer want to do?
Answer: Cancel

2. Why does the customer give as a reason?
Answer: Moving cities

3. How does the agent try to keep them?
Answer: Mentions other branches

4. When does the cancellation take effect?
Answer: Immediately

Your speaking challenge

Call to cancel a subscription. The agent tries to retain you. Stay polite but firm. Give a reason if asked; decline retention offers gracefully.

Bonjour, je voudrais annuler mon abonnement. C'est parce que [reason]. Merci pour votre offre, mais j'ai décidé. Quelle est la procédure ?
Hello, I'd like to cancel my membership. It's because [reason]. Thanks for your offer, but I've decided. What's the procedure?