Cancel Empire Magazine the easy way

Overview

Empire is a UK film magazine founded in 1989 that covers movies, interviews and industry features. The brand is owned by Bauer Media Group and targets movie fans who want both print and digital coverage.

Products

Empire sells a range of subscriptions: annual VIP Club memberships, print plus digital bundles, digital annual subscriptions and single-issue purchases via the app. The VIP Club is UK only and includes bundled cinema membership benefits.

Company facts

Official information on subscriptions and the publisher is available from Empire's site: about Empire and subscription details at Empire subscribe.

Web (official site)

1. Go to your Empire account at the official site or the subscription management link in your subscription emails.
2. Locate 'Manage subscription' or 'Subscription settings'.
3. Click 'Cancel' or follow prompts; save any confirmation page.
4. If a cancel button is not available, use the site contact form or the email addresses below.

iOS (App Store)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name.
2. Tap 'Subscriptions'.
3. Find the Empire subscription and tap 'Cancel Subscription'.
4. Keep the Apple confirmation email or screenshot as proof.

Android (Google Play)

1. Open Google Play Store and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap 'Payments and subscriptions' then 'Subscriptions'.
3. Select Empire and tap 'Cancel subscription'.
4. Save the Google Play confirmation email or screenshot.

Phone

1. A phone number for direct cancellation is not published by Empire Magazine.
2. If you have a phone number from a purchase receipt use it, and request a written confirmation by email.
3. Record the date and time of any call and ask for a reference number.

Email

1. Send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] with your full name, subscription reference or order number, billing email and a clear statement 'Cancel my subscription'.
2. Await a written confirmation. Empire's public guidance lists email contact for cancellations.
3. Keep the confirmation for your records; cancellations take effect at the end of the billing cycle.

Post (registered letter)

1. Write a signed cancellation letter including your name, address, subscription reference and request 'Cancel my subscription'.
2. Send by registered post to Empire Magazine, 112-114 Walton Street, HP21 7QX Aylesbury, United Kingdom.
3. Keep proof of posting and any reply from Empire.

Relevant official pages: Empire refund and cancellation policy here and VIP membership FAQ here.

Moving address (relocation)

Rule: Empire has not publicly published a specific relocation policy. If you cannot receive print issues at your new address you should notify Empire and request cancellation or change of delivery. For print subscriptions you may be entitled to a prorated refund for remaining issues according to Empire's published print refund information.

Required proof documents: proof of new address (utility bill or tenancy agreement) and your subscription reference.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 - 14 day cooling-off may apply for purchases made remotely; see Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for cooling-off renewals.

Price increase

Rule: If Empire increases the price on renewal and you object, you may cancel the renewal. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 requires clear notice of renewal and cooling-off rights. Empire's public pages instruct customers to contact support to cancel following price increases.

Required proof documents: copy of renewal notice, original order reference and billing email.

Applicable law: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - cooling-off notice requirements. See legislation and section on end of contract notices section 261.

Death of subscriber

Rule: Empire has not publicly listed a death handling policy. In practice with publishers, estates notify support and provide a copy of the death certificate to stop future billing and request refunds for unused print issues if eligible.

Required proof documents: death certificate, subscriber details and proof of purchase.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 and common contract law principles govern termination on death; contact Empire for their internal process.

Legitimate ground

Rule: Empire has not publicly listed a catalogue of accepted 'legitimate grounds' for early termination beyond standard cooling-off and specific product terms. For print subscriptions Empire offers a prorated refund for remaining issues on cancellation. For digital subscriptions Empire states 'no refunds for partial periods or unused access' for digital subscriptions on its public policy.

Required proof documents: depends on reason; provide documentary evidence such as hospital letters or proof of service termination where applicable.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 - service must be performed with reasonable care and skill; Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for cooling-off rights.

End of commitment

Rule: For plans without a fixed commitment (standard digital subscriptions) you may cancel at any time and cancellation takes effect at end of billing cycle. The Empire VIP Club is an annual commitment and 'cannot be cancelled mid-term' according to commercial materials.

Required proof documents: subscription reference and account details.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for off-premises contracts and Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for renewal notices.

Cooling-off period

Rule: Under UK law a 14 day cooling-off period applies for most contracts concluded online or away from the trader under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 also strengthened renewal cooling-off requirements and requires clear end of contract notices and refunds where due. Empire's public policy reiterates cooling-off and refund handling on its official pages.

Required proof documents: order confirmation and a clear written statement of cancellation within the cooling-off period.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013; Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. See cooling-off rights.

Before you cancel: negotiate

Retention offers reported: Empire has not published standard retention discount details on public pages. No specific retention discounts are listed in the available research. To attempt retention offers, send an email to [email protected] or use the site contact form and request a retention offer or a change of plan. Use a clear subject line such as 'Request to retain subscription - offer request'.

How to ask for a retention offer - steps:

1. Gather your subscription reference and recent invoice.
2. Email [email protected] or [email protected]. State that you want to remain but would like a lower price or plan change.
3. Propose specific alternatives: switch to Digital annual at £49.99 or to app annual at £29.99 if available to you.
4. Save any written offer before accepting; accepting a retention offer is a new contractual term.

What cancelling saves you - exact maths

Use these real prices to compute yearly savings versus the Empire VIP Club at 'from £9.51/month' (annual commitment).

• Empire VIP Club: £9.51 x 12 = £114.12 per year.
• Empire Digital annual (isubscribe): £49.99 per year.
• Empire App annual option listed: £29.99 per year.
• Single app issue: £3.99 each.
• Promotional first 3 print issues: £3 one-off offer.

Example savings:

• Switch from VIP to Digital annual: 114.12 - 49.99 = £64.13 saved per year.
• Switch from VIP to App annual £29.99: 114.12 - 29.99 = £84.13 saved per year.
• Switch from VIP to competitor Little White Lies £30 annual: 114.12 - 30.00 = £84.12 saved per year.

Cheapest real alternative from the competitors listed in research: Little White Lies at £30 per year.

Relevant laws and regulator

Primary UK laws: Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. For digital market rules affecting renewals and cooling-off see the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the Digital Markets Unit will enforce many aspects of digital subscription fairness.

Cooling-off and refunds

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 provide a 14 day cooling-off period for most online or off-premises contracts, with refund rights. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 requires clear end of contract notices and states cancellation ends obligations and may trigger refunds under section 261 for overpayments. Empire's public policy confirms limited refunds for digital and prorated refunds for print.

When you can escalate

Steps to escalate a dispute:

1. Complain to Empire in writing to [email protected] or by registered post to the address provided.
2. If unresolved, contact Citizens Advice for guidance and to notify the CMA where there is evidence of unfair terms or hard-to-cancel subscriptions.
3. Where payment was by credit card you may seek a Section 75 claim through your card issuer for qualifying purchases or request a chargeback via your bank.

Official legislation references: cooling-off rights summary and end of contract notice rules at Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and section 261 here. See also cooling-off details here.

Check access and final billing

After cancellation verify when your access ends. Digital subscriptions normally continue until the end of the paid billing period. Empire states that digital cancellations take effect at the end of the current billing cycle. For print subscriptions expect delivery until the last paid issue and a prorated refund for remaining issues where eligible.

Data and account

Export any content or receipts you need and note your subscription reference. If you want Empire to delete personal data, request deletion in writing to [email protected]; Empire will respond under UK data protection rules.

Refund timings

Empire's public policy: refunds for eligible print requests are processed within 7-10 business days to the original payment method. For digital subscriptions Empire states 'No refunds are issued for partial periods or unused access for digital subscriptions.' See Empire refund policy here.

Re-activation

If you decide to re-subscribe, follow the subscription flow on Empire's site or the app store. Note: the VIP Club is an annual commitment and sold as such; re-joining is a new contract.

Use this checklist to cancel and protect your consumer rights.

• Find your subscription reference and the email used to subscribe.
• Decide which cancellation channel you will use (email is the fastest recorded method).
• If emailing, send to [email protected] and copy [email protected]; include name, address, subscription reference and 'Cancel my subscription'.
• Take screenshots of account settings or app store cancellation pages as proof.
• If you have a print subscription and want a refund, request a prorated refund and provide delivery details.
• Keep written confirmation from Empire; if you do not receive confirmation within 14 days, follow up and escalate to Citizens Advice.
• If charged after cancellation, contact your card issuer and consider Section 75 or chargeback for qualifying transactions.