Getting out
How to leave an agency safely
To leave an agency safely, first make sure you control your login, email, payout and bank details, then save evidence of your earnings, then read your contract's notice and exit terms before giving notice in writing. If the agency threatens you or your content, get help before you act: in the UK, call 999 in an emergency or the Revenge Porn Helpline on 0345 6000 459.
Before anything: your safety
Most exits are just admin. But creators told the BBC about managers who reacted badly when they tried to take back control. If you're worried about how your agency will react, talk to someone you trust and get support before you change anything. The UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner describes "control, coercion, financial pressure and an inability to leave freely" as recognised signs of exploitation. If that sounds like your situation, the helplines below are free and confidential.
If you need help now (UK)
In danger or being threatened: call 999, or 101 if it isn't an emergency.
Someone threatening to share your content: Revenge Porn Helpline, 0345 6000 459 (weekdays 10am to 4pm), [email protected]. They support adult content creators too.
Being controlled, pressured or unable to leave: Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, 08000 121 700 (free, 24 hours).
Scammed or lost money: Action Fraud, 0300 123 2040.
Step by step
1. Check who controls your account
Look at the login email, phone number, password and two-factor authentication on your account. If the agency set any of these up, or knows your password, you may not fully control your own account. When it's safe to, make sure the email and phone are yours, set a new password only you know, and turn on two-factor authentication. Check for logged-in sessions or devices you don't recognise.
2. Check where your money goes
Go to your payout and bank settings. The BBC heard from creators whose bank details were changed so money went straight to their manager. Make sure the account is in your name and that you're the one being paid.
3. Save evidence
Before you give notice, take screenshots or download your earnings statements, and save your contract and important messages with the agency. If there's a dispute about money later, you'll need these.
4. Read your contract's exit terms
Find the notice period, any exit fees, and anything about who owns your content. See the checklist below. If there's a large fee or you're unsure, get advice before you pay anything.
5. Give notice in writing
Email or message them clearly: the date you're ending the agreement, a request for a final statement of earnings, and a request that they stop using your account and delete your content and data they hold. Keep it short and factual.
6. Tidy up afterwards
Remove the agency from any connected tools, change passwords again if needed, and tell your fans if anything changes about who they're talking to.
What to check in your contract
| Clause | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Notice period | How much notice you have to give, and how. |
| Exit or early termination fees | Any fine for leaving. The BBC found contracts that fined creators for leaving early. |
| Minimum term | Whether you're locked in, and whether you can leave if they don't deliver. |
| Content and name | Whether they claim rights to your content or name after you leave. |
| Money owed | How the final payment is worked out, and when. |
| Subscriber data | Whether your fan list and messages stay with you. |
If you never signed a contract and only agreed terms over chat, you may have more freedom, but save those messages. Unfair or unclear terms can sometimes be challenged, so for a big fee or a threat of legal action, speak to a solicitor or Citizens Advice before you pay.
If they threaten you or your content
- Threats to share your content: this can be a criminal offence in the UK. Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline (0345 6000 459), which supports adult content creators, and consider reporting to the police.
- Threats to your safety: call 999 in an emergency, or 101.
- Being controlled or unable to leave: the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (08000 121 700) is free and open 24 hours.
Questions creators ask
Can my agency stop me leaving?
A contract may set a notice period or fees, but an agency can't lawfully control you, your account or your money. If you're being pressured or threatened, get help from the helplines on this page.
Do I have to pay an exit fee?
Check exactly what your contract says. Large fees or penalties can sometimes be challenged as unfair. Get advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice before paying a big fee.
What if my agency changed my password or bank details?
Contact the platform's support straight away to recover your account and correct your payout details, and save evidence of what happened. If money was taken, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Can they keep posting my content after I leave?
Check your contract, but your content should stay yours. Ask in writing for them to stop using it and delete what they hold. If they threaten to share it, contact the Revenge Porn Helpline.
Not sure about your deal? We'll check it.
Send us your contract, the chat where you agreed terms, or the agency's DM. A person reads every check. Free, private, and we're never on the agency's side.
Start my free checkSources
- BBC News: OnlyFans "agents" control and threaten creators while taking half their earnings (15 June 2026)
- Revenge Porn Helpline: how to get in touch
- Unseen: UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline
- Action Fraud: report fraud