After a death, subscriptions often keep running for months. Telecoms, streaming, gym, newspaper, gas and electricity: each service has its own process. Below is a working order that lets most families close or transfer every contract on the deceased's name within three weeks.
Inventory first, cancel after
Before calling a single provider, list what is running. Good sources:
- the bank account of the deceased (recurring payments and direct debits of the last 12 months);
- the e-mail inbox (search for "invoice", "subscription", "factuur");
- the letterbox (paper invoices often appear quarterly).
We keep that list inside your Nalenta file so every heir knows what is still open.
Telecom (Proximus, Telenet, Orange, Scarlet)
Belgian telecom operators stop the subscription free of charge on death, against a death certificate extract. Ask explicitly for:
- closure on the date of death (no notice period);
- pickup of hardware (modem, set-top box);
- refund of credit to a bank account you specify.
The fastest channel is an e-mail to customer service with the certificate attached. Transferring the line to a relative is possible, but often easier in two steps: close and start a fresh contract.
Streaming and software (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Microsoft 365)
Streaming services do not ask for a certificate. Log in with the existing credentials and cancel via the website. Three points:
- note the exact cancellation date: mid-period cancellations rarely refund;
- for family plans used by other relatives, you can transfer the primary user instead of cancelling;
- for Apple, Google or Microsoft, see our digital legacy guide for the official forms.
Energy (gas and electricity)
Energy contracts are tied to an address, not a person. Two scenarios:
- home still occupied by a relative: request the takeover in writing with the meter reading on the date of death;
- home empty: request a final invoice. The grid operator reads the meter. A sale or new tenancy will need a fresh contract in the new occupant's name.
In Flanders, closure runs through Fluvius; in Wallonia through ORES or RESA; in Brussels through Sibelga. Invoices up to the date of death are part of the estate.
Press and subscriptions (newspaper, magazine, gym)
For paper publications and gyms, the right to terminate on death often applies (article VI.83 of the Code of Economic Law). You can cancel immediately without penalty. Send a registered letter with the certificate. The remaining period is refunded.
Insurance is different
Important: do not cancel car, fire or hospital insurance while the property or vehicle is still part of the estate. Ask your insurer what to do with the vehicle while it is still part of the estate.
Honest note on refunds
Not every provider refunds the unused part. Telecoms usually do, streaming almost never, gyms only when the death-termination right applies. Start with the most expensive cancellations.
A working order
- Week 1: bank cards blocked, telecom cancelled.
- Week 2: streaming, software and subscriptions via e-mail.
- Week 3: energy and water (depending on what happens to the home).
- Week 4: press and gym by registered letter.
Keep every reply in the file. In case of dispute, the written confirmation is what counts.
For the estate itself, you can use Nalenta: start your file or see what it covers.