My hands were shaking when I opened the email. “Your pet’s wellness plan has been charged $63.95 for this month.” The problem? My golden retriever Bailey had died three weeks earlier from cancer. When I called Banfield to cancel, the customer service rep delivered news that felt like a punch to the gut: I still owed $847 for the remaining eight months of the contract, for a dog who was no longer alive.
If you’re Googling how to cancel your Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan right now, you’re probably facing your own version of this nightmare. Maybe you’re moving somewhere without a Banfield location. Perhaps you found cheaper care elsewhere. Or worst of all, like hundreds of pet parents every month, you’re grieving a pet and discovering that Banfield’s cancellation policy shows zero compassion.
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What You Need to Know Before You Cancel
Banfield doesn’t make cancellation information easy to find. Buried in the fine print of your enrollment documents is the harsh reality: you’re locked into a 12-month contract regardless of circumstances.
When you cancel, you’ll pay whichever amount is less—either the retail value of services your pet already received minus what you’ve paid, or the remaining monthly payments on your contract. Banfield calculates their retail prices strategically high, which means you’re often stuck paying the full remainder.
As of December 2025, Banfield wellness plans cost between $27 to $55 per month depending on your pet type, location, and plan tier. Add the one-time enrollment fee of $59.95, and most pet owners invest $400 to $700 annually. That’s money you can’t get back when circumstances change.
The Three Ways to Cancel Your Banfield Wellness Plan
You cannot cancel your Banfield plan online. There’s no online cancellation button, no quick form, no easy way out. Banfield requires you to contact them directly through one of three methods.
Call the Wellness Plan Relations Team
The fastest way to cancel is calling 888-649-2716. I’ve made this call twice—once for Bailey and once for my cat Luna when we moved to Vermont.
Expect to wait on hold for 20 to 45 minutes. The representative will ask why you’re canceling and try to convince you to stay. They’re trained to offer “solutions” like pausing your plan or switching to a different tier. Stay firm and repeat: I need to cancel my plan today.
They’ll calculate your balance on the call. For most people canceling mid-contract, you’re looking at anywhere from $200 to $900 in remaining payments. They won’t waive this even if your pet died, you lost your job, or you’re facing financial hardship.
If you stop paying without officially canceling, Banfield will send your account to collections.
Email the Cancellation Request
You can also email wellnessplanrelations@banfield.com with your cancellation request. Include your full name, the name on the account, your pet’s name, your membership number, and a clear statement that you want to cancel.
Response times vary wildly. Some people report hearing back within 24 hours, while others wait a full week. During that time, if your payment date arrives, you’ll still be charged.
Submit an Online Contact Form
Banfield has an online contact form where you can request cancellation. You fill out your information and wait for someone to call you back. Most people say the team responds within two business days, then you still need a phone conversation to finalize everything.
What Happens After You Request Cancellation
Once Banfield processes your cancellation request, they’ll send you a final statement showing exactly what you owe. Here’s the calculation: Banfield adds up the retail value of every service your pet received—exams, vaccinations, bloodwork, teeth cleaning—then subtracts what you’ve already paid in monthly installments. If that number is positive, you owe it. If it’s negative, no refunds.
Your plan officially ends once the balance is paid in full.
Special Circumstances: When Your Pet Dies
This section is painful to write, but someone needs to say it plainly: Banfield does not make exceptions for deceased pets.
When Bailey died in June 2024, I naively assumed compassion would factor into the cancellation policy. I was wrong. The customer service representative explained that whether my pet is alive or deceased, the contract terms remain identical.
Banfield argues their wellness plans are prepaid service packages, not insurance policies. They provided services throughout Bailey’s plan year, so they’re entitled to payment regardless of whether he’s alive to use future appointments.
Legally, they’re probably correct. Morally? It’s unconscionable. Hundreds of grieving pet parents face this same situation every month.
Real Cancellation Stories
Sarah from Colorado Springs renewed her dog’s wellness plan on November 29, 2023. Her dog died eight days later. Banfield still charged her $1,100.
Nick from Kansas tried to cancel after eight years. He was told he owed 10 months of payments—$440 for a plan he couldn’t use.
Banfield has an F rating with the BBB based on over 500 complaints filed in 2024, mostly about cancellation disputes.
Alternatives Before You Cancel
Before you commit to canceling, consider:
- Pause your plan: Some locations allow 1-3 month suspensions for temporary hardship.
- Transfer locations: Banfield operates in 42 states with over 1,000 hospitals.
- Downgrade plans: Switch from Premium to Active Care for lower monthly payments.
- Max out services: Schedule teeth cleanings, blood tests, and vaccines before leaving.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you’ve decided canceling is your only option, here’s your action plan:
Log into your MyBanfield account and document everything—your current plan tier, monthly payment amount, payment history, and services your pet received. Screenshot it all.
Gather your enrollment documents. Understanding exactly what you agreed to helps you push back if Banfield tries to charge more than the contract allows.
Calculate your own estimate of what you’ll owe. Add up all the services your pet received, subtract what you’ve paid, and compare that to your remaining monthly payments.
Block out an hour, call 888-649-2716 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST), and have a notepad ready. Write down the representative’s name, the date, and the exact balance they quote you.
Get written confirmation. Before you hang up, ask them to email you a cancellation confirmation and final billing statement. This protects you if they claim you never officially canceled.
The Auto-Renewal Trap
Banfield wellness plans auto-renew every year unless you specifically opt out, with no advance notification required.
I learned this with Luna’s plan. Month 13 arrived, the charge hit my credit card, and I was locked into another 12 months.
To prevent auto-renewal, log into your MyBanfield account 30 days before your anniversary date, navigate to Account Settings, click “Manage Plan,” and select “Do not renew.” Then call 888-649-2716 to confirm verbally. Both steps are necessary.
Set a calendar reminder three months before your anniversary to use remaining services and avoid surprise charges.
Conclusion
Canceling a Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan is expensive, emotionally draining, and deliberately complicated. The company’s business model depends on contractual lock-in and high cancellation costs that discourage people from leaving.
You will pay money to exit this plan unless you happen to be canceling on your exact renewal date with zero services used. Budget for it, accept it, and move forward with better pet care options.
