How to Get Out of a Card Machine Contract
There are three routes out. (1) Wait out the notice period: most UK contracts require 30-90 days written notice. (2) Pay the exit fee to leave mid-term, roughly £200-£1,500+ at the big acquirers, plus £150-£300 terminal return. (3) Have the new provider buy you out: Dojo pays up to £3,000 towards your existing provider's exit fees when you switch through MerchantSwitch (eligibility confirmed at quote).
Whichever route you take: get your exit-fee figure in writing first, and do not cancel until the new terminal is live.
Rates checked: August 2026
The three routes compared
| Route | Typical cost | Timeline | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wait out the notice period | £0 in exit fees (keep paying until it ends) | 30-90 days from written notice | Your contract end date is close: serve notice now and run it down |
| 2. Pay the exit fee | ~£200-£1,500+ by provider and time left, plus £150-£300 terminal return | Immediate once paid | The saving from a better rate outweighs the fee (do the arithmetic below) |
| 3. New provider buys you out | £0 to you for exit fees up to £3,000 (Dojo switcher offer via MerchantSwitch; eligibility at quote) | 1-4 weeks for the new terminal to go live | You are mid-contract with a meaningful exit fee and the buyout covers the stack |
Exit-fee ranges are from our provider cancellation guides, checked August 2026. Your contract is the authority. Get your exact figure in writing.
The arithmetic for route 2: if switching cuts your card fees by £100 a month and your exit fee is £600, you break even in six months: worthwhile with a year or more left, marginal with three months left (where route 1 wins). Route 3 removes the fee from the equation up to £3,000: since the big acquirers' exit fees typically run £200-£1,500 plus £150-£300 terminal return, the buyout covers the full stack for most contracts.
The steps, in the right order
- Find your contract end date and notice period. Both are in your original agreement. Look for the term length (acquirer contracts run 12-60 months), the notice period (usually 30-90 days; Worldpay typically 90) and whether you own or rent the terminal. Serving notice late can roll you into another term.
- Get the exit-fee figure in writing. Ask your provider for the exact early termination fee and any terminal return charge, in writing. Verbal quotes are not enough: you need the number to compare routes, and the paperwork if a new provider is buying you out.
- Compare the fee against the buyout. If your written exit fee is within the up-to-£3,000 buyout, switching to Dojo through MerchantSwitch means the fee stops being the obstacle. You are choosing on the rate, which is what actually matters long term.
- Do not cancel until the new terminal is live. Set up the new provider first (typically 1-4 weeks, see how long switching takes), run both side by side, then serve written notice and return any rented hardware tracked. Late returns can add £50+ a week.
Provider-by-provider cancellation guides
Each guide covers that provider's notice period, typical exit fees and the exact cancellation steps:
- How to cancel Worldpay (90 days notice; exit fees ~£200 with under six months left, to £1,500+ with over two years left)
- How to cancel Barclaycard Merchant Services
- How to cancel Lloyds Cardnet (contracts run 36-60 months; exit fees commonly £500-£1,500)
- How to cancel Elavon (exit fees typically £250-£800)
- How to cancel Tyl by NatWest
For every other provider, start with our full cancel-your-card-machine hub.
MerchantSwitch is a free comparison service; we are paid by providers when we successfully match a business. Buyout eligibility is confirmed at quote. We are an introducer, not a lender or acquirer, and we are not regulated by the FCA.
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