End of contract - why do I have to give 30 days notice

[jessicaandmilo]

I am on a 24 month contract that ends 06/03. I’ve gone to cancel it today and they’ve told me I need to give 30 days notice but if I give notice today - 25/02 - I will pay an early termination fee. I can’t get my head around this - I would be paying the full length of my contact PLUS an additional 20 days?

and then on top of this - they advised my monthly notice period amount after the 06/03 end date would still include the amount I pay for the actual phone which I would have finished paying off at 06/03? 
so actually - my 24 month contract is a 25 month contract because I can’t cancel until the actual end date and have to give a months notice from the end date. What am I not understanding here???

[AnnS]

You can end your contract at any time giving 30 days notice @jessicaandmilo .  As you have mentioned line rental is paid in advance and you would have effectively paid for the final month, when you receive the final 0.00 bill any line rental owing back to you would be credited back direct to your bank and Vodafone would then cancel the direct debit.

The best way to cancel your account at the end of contract is by a PAC or STAC code.  If you want to keep the number on an alternative network, text for a PAC and submit the PAC to the network.  If you don't want to keep the number get a STAC and submit the code to any other network and the contract will end. Alternatively, log onto your online account and make the switch through your account. When you are out contract these methods do not require 30 days notice and the contract immediately ends.

See here: Cancel Account 

[jessicaandmilo]

I still don’t understand why I would pay an early termination? I should have been able to cancel the contact so that it finished when my contract finished?