Did you mess up and they are firing you? Let them go. If you did not, then stick to your guns maybe. I don't force people to work with me. 

I've never been 'fired' but, I will say that if someone did say they wanted to end our relationship, I would be gracious and let them go. 

If you're gracious and let them out of the Contract, they are less likely to say anything negative about you.

If you hold their feet to the fire, they are REALLY not going to be happy and just know, a negative review is soon to follow!

I provide each client with an Easy Exit Agreement that says if I have not done what I promised to do they can fire me at any time during the course of the listing agreement. I also tell clients that in 25 years I've never been fired, but that I have fired a few clients and suggested they find another agent to work with.

If your client is that unhappy with you, first you need to determine why. But at the end of the day, if they don't want to work with you, let them go... why would you hold them "hostage?" And if they are so difficult to work with stop wasting more time servicing a "bad" client and find new, more cooperative ones. At the end of the day, you win some, you lose some.

One more thought... if you interview your clients up front really hard, you will get an instinct as to whether or not they might be so difficult and high maintenance that you don't even want to take on the listing.

Wait, I'm not clear. The seller was difficult to work with? Cut them loose! Why did you wait that long?
PS I take my listings for one year minimum with a 7-Day MUTUAL kick out clause. I can fire them, and they can fire me if we not keep up our end which I always do, but if they don't, bye.
I keep my broker protection clause in place so they can't fsbo without waiting.
But if they want to go with a different agent, by all means let them. If they're already difficult, they're the common denominator. The good news is you already know everything about the property, so find a buyer and represent them to the fullest you're able.

According to our contracts, the seller is bound by our contract unless we have not fulfilled the duties as outlined in the Listing Agreement.  If the Seller chooses to end the contract earlier than was agreed upon, we have the right to charge them marketing fees.  I have only done it twice in 25 years ... and it was because the seller decided to list with someone else and they wanted out of the contract.  Just so you know, I had fulfilled my responsibilities -- it was more that the "spouse" wanted another party in once case and in the other, the attorney recommended another party.  Both times the seller agreed to pay the fee.

What,if any, discussion, has taken place?  Anything in writing? 

If they haven't held up their end of the bargain then I will let them pay expenses and bail. I don't want to be in business with someone that is uncooperative or doesn't believe in me.

Why do they want to cancel the current listing agreement?

Are you performing as agreed?

Cut them loose.  Don't look back.

We would never force anyone to work with us.  A

I always say, when people got married, they say "Forever and ever" and after they got divorce. 

Same story with the listing. The owner may get "divorce" and move on. 

There is a listing agreement and cancellation fee. How much is cancellation fee in your listing agreement? 

I do not force them to work with me.

Right now if a listing is 3 months old it is either too high in price, a bad location, or poor condition, or a combination. 

I prefer to use easy release provisions. Let them move on if that is what they want.

That is a dilemma that we all must face sometimes Anonymous (let them go)

If they are difficult to work with, not taking advice, not listening to what it takes move on and count yourself lucky.  Ask them before you do for one favor, don't lower the price for the next agent who hasn't put in the time and money you did without lowering it for you first.  

There isn't enough circumstances in your question to know what I would do.

A contract is a contract.  At the end of the day, the contract is with the Broker, not you, and it's ultimately their call.  They could assign another agent, let them go or tell them no.  In California, if they did switch agents or agencies during the contract period they would still be liable for your commission even if someone else sells it.

Nina Hollander nailed this one!

Nina Hollander sums it up well. Life is too short to be aggravated.

If they want to leave, I would let them.

Bye-bye...Forcing anyone to do anything has consequences

I'd definitely want to know why they had a change of heart. Was it a surprise? Did things come up during our weekly communication that indicated this was going to happen? Is the other agent a friend? Did the other agent get involved in a way they shouldn't have? 

Bottom line, though, if someone doesn't want to work with me, then they can go. I wouldn't have any interest in "making" them stay - they'd probably say no to any offer I brought them, just to get even. Or they'd sabotage their sale in other ways (sorry, no showings today). Who needs the aggravation?

You don't have a choice.  If they want to terminate you must terminate.  Your recourse would be do sue them, and only your broker could do that, and doubtful they would.

we always do everything we presented during a listing presentation.... there's no reason to cut us loose... we won't agree to that unless we give them a reason to do it... never happens.

Great answers are here. Good luck. 

I have this conversation ahead of times and ai may let them out for a price

I always write into my contracts a fee to pay for my photos and other marketing, and they will be released immediately.  Have had 4 do this.

Depends on if you did a good job for them or not.

A contentious relationship is not a good relationship. If you cannot come to an agreement on how to move forward to the satisfaction of you and the seller, it is hard to see how holding them to a contract benefits you. In fact, I think the situation would only go further downhill. Reflect on what has gone wrong and make an intelligent decision about whether the relationship can be salvaged. If the out look is poor, let them go and concentrate your energies on better opportunities.

Going through the same - and likely not to release it.

As long as the other agent is good and offers a substantial referral fee i would be fine.

Very unlikely. I try to fix wht the issue is. I will do what it takes and if the seller is at fault, i will hold them to the contract. 

It is better to let unhappy client go. 

Depends, maybe I will want to dump them by that time as well...

I have a withdraw fee in my listing agreement that I strickly enforce if the sellers pull out before it expires. 

I do not own the listing and cannot cancel the agreement.  My brokerage owns the agreement.. but if I'm doing my job, working to get it sold, spending money on marketing it, I would ask my broker not to release them.  If  they have have their home priced unrealistically, after I have told them to reduce the price they are the ones causing the problem. Perhaps if they agree to reimburse me for my time and expense I would consider it.

You can charge a Cancelation Fee

This is detailed in the 'TERMINATION" section of the listing agreement.

I would share the details but it is unknown if you have the education, training, experience or maturity to handle such information responsibly. That is solved with a profile.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The listing belongs to the broker. Termination may not be a decision the agent can make. So, take care regarding who an agent chooses to get into business with. Some brokers are career breakers.