Quick Summary
- Call (833) 200-7514 to cancel - it’s the only way
- No early termination fee and no contracts
- One exception: if you bail on a promotion early, you may owe the difference between your promo rate and the standard rate
- Return all equipment via FedEx within 30 days or you’re looking at up to $180 per device
- Optimum doesn’t prorate. Cancel before your billing cycle resets or you’re paying for a full month you won’t use
- Former Suddenlink customers: same process, same policies. It’s all Optimum now
How to Cancel
Phone
Phone is the only option. Optimum doesn’t let you cancel online or in-person.
Call (833) 200-7514 and navigate to cancellation. You’ll end up with the retention team, and they will work you. Optimum’s retention is aggressive - expect offers for bundle packages, discounted rates, and free months of service. If you’ve made up your mind, don’t engage. The discounts they offer typically last six months and then your rate jumps back up.
Before you hang up, get a confirmation number and ask for email verification. Write both down.
Optimum has regional numbers that may connect faster depending on your area:
- Bronx/Brooklyn/Westchester: (718) 860-3514
- New Jersey: (973) 230-6048
- Long Island: (631) 393-0637
- Connecticut: (203) 870-2583
Have your account number and billing cycle date ready before calling. If you’re not fully committed, ask about service suspension first - Optimum offers holds up to 6 months at (866) 218-3259 (reduced monthly fee applies).
Online
Not available. Phone only.
In-Person
Not available. Phone only.
What It Costs
Nothing beyond your regular bill. Optimum is month-to-month with no contracts, so there’s no early termination fee.
The one gotcha: if you signed up for a promotional rate and cancel before the promo period ends, Optimum may charge you the difference between what you paid and what the standard rate would have been. Check your promo terms before calling.
Optimum doesn’t prorate. If you cancel mid-cycle, you pay for the entire billing period with no partial refund. Your service stays active until the end of that cycle.
Equipment Return
What You Return
- Modems
- Routers
- Cable boxes and smart cards
- Digital antennas
- All remotes and power cords
If you own your own modem or router, you keep it. Only Optimum-provided equipment needs to go back.
How to Return It
FedEx - use Optimum’s FedEx return portal to generate a prepaid shipping label. Drop off your packaged equipment at a Walgreens, FedEx Office, or any authorized FedEx location. Get a receipt with tracking.
Deadline
30 days from cancellation. Don’t push it.
Unreturned Equipment Fees
| Equipment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Cable Box / Smart Card | $180 |
| Modem | $100 |
| Router | $80 |
| Digital Antenna | $25 |
These add up fast if you had multiple devices. Photograph everything before you hand it over, note the serial numbers, and keep your receipt until the final bill comes clean.
After You Cancel
Final bill includes your monthly charge through the end of the billing cycle, plus any unreturned equipment fees or promo clawbacks. No surprises if you returned everything and timed the cancellation right.
Confirmation arrives by email within 24-48 hours. If it doesn’t show up, call back with the confirmation number you wrote down.
Reactivation is available, but don’t expect new-customer pricing unless you’ve been off Optimum for at least 30 days.
Suddenlink customers - if you were a Suddenlink customer before the rebrand, everything above applies to you. Same systems, same policies, same phone numbers.
Common Problems
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Long hold times on the main number | Try your regional number (listed above) - they often have shorter queues |
| Aggressive retention offers | Stay firm. The discounts they’re offering expire in 6 months and your rate goes right back up |
| No online or in-person cancellation | Phone is the only option. There’s no workaround |
| Equipment charges after return | Call immediately with your FedEx receipt and tracking number. Escalate to a supervisor if needed |
| Full-month charge after canceling | You missed the billing cycle cutoff. Optimum doesn’t prorate - nothing to do but time it right next time |
| Promo clawback charge on final bill | Check your original promo terms. If the charge doesn’t match, dispute it with your confirmation number |
| FedEx drop box rejected equipment | Use a staffed location only - Walgreens, FedEx Office, or authorized FedEx retail. Reprint your label if needed |