Cancel Great Magazines the easy way

Overview

Great Magazines B.V. is a magazine subscription retailer that sells print and digital magazine subscriptions and single-issue bundles in the United Kingdom. It operates under Bauer Media Group and offers trial bundles and monthly digital subscriptions.

Products and formats

The service offers digital subscriptions with reading features and print subscriptions with occasional sale prices. Example price points published for Great Magazines include digital subscriptions from £1.99 and £2.99 per month, print offers from £1 per issue in sale, and annual options from £20.

Company facts

Quick fact box:

Web - MyAccount (recommended)

1. Go to the official cancellation help: How do I cancel my subscription.
2. Log into MyAccount with your email and password.
3. Click Manage Order next to the subscription you want to cancel.
4. Select Cancel subscription on the right-hand side and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Keep the on-screen confirmation or take a screenshot and retain any confirmation email.

iOS (if purchased via Apple)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name, then Subscriptions.
3. Find the magazine subscription and tap Cancel Subscription.
4. Retain the Apple confirmation email or screenshot.

Android (if purchased via Google Play)

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon, then Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
3. Select the magazine subscription and tap Cancel subscription.
4. Keep the Google Play confirmation.

Phone

1. Find contact details on the official contact page: Contact us.
2. Call the support number shown and state you wish to cancel the subscription and request a cancellation reference.
3. Note the agent name, time and reference and ask for written confirmation by email.

Email

1. Send a clear email subject line: Cancel subscription - [Your name] - [Subscription reference].
2. Include your full name, address, order number and reason for cancellation.
3. Request a confirmation email stating the effective cancellation date.

Post

1. Write a signed cancellation letter including full name, address, order number and clear statement "I cancel my subscription" with date.
2. Send by recorded delivery to: Great Magazines, Tower House, LE16 9EF Market Harborough, United Kingdom.
3. Keep the proof of postage and signed delivery receipt.

Moving - change of delivery address

If you are moving address and the magazine cannot be delivered, contact Great Magazines via MyAccount or Contact us to update your details or cancel. Provide proof of new address (utility bill dated within 3 months) when requested. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 for service performance.

Price increase

If Great Magazines increases the subscription price at renewal, you have the right to cancel the renewed contract. Keep the renewal notice from the trader; traders must provide a renewal cooling-off notice for each renewal under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Chapter 2). Applicable law: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

Death of the subscriber

To cancel due to the death of the subscriber, contact support and supply a copy of the death certificate and proof of executor status or power of attorney. Great Magazines' specific accepted proof is not publicly disclosed; however you should send documents by email or post and request confirmation. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 regarding contract termination on legitimate grounds.

Legitimate ground (service not delivered / quality)

If Great Magazines fails to deliver promised issues or the service is defective, you can request cancellation under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Document missed issues (dates) and request a refund for undelivered issues. Keep copies of communications and bank statements showing payments.

End of commitment

If your subscription had an initial fixed term, cancellation at the end of that term typically requires notice. The exact notice period is not publicly disclosed by Great Magazines; customer reports cite a one month notice practice. Provide written notice at least one month before the renewal date and request written confirmation.

Cooling-off period (trial and distance contracts)

Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 you have an unconditional right to cancel distance contracts within 14 calendar days from the date of contract conclusion. If you cancel within 14 days you are entitled to a refund for payments made. If digital content has been downloaded or streaming started with your express consent, that may affect refund rights. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (cooling-off rights).

Before you cancel: how to negotiate

Reported retention offers from Great Magazines are not publicly listed in the research. Customer testimonials indicate limited success obtaining refunds or retention offers. When you call or email to cancel, ask explicitly for a retention offer and state whether you are willing to accept a discounted rate or a pause. Script to ask: "I want to cancel. If you can offer a reduced price, trial extension or pause, I will consider staying. Please tell me any offers you can provide." Always request written confirmation of any offer by email.

What cancelling saves you - examples

Compute yearly cost and savings using published Great Magazines prices:

• Digital subscription at £1.99 per month: £1.99 x 12 = £23.88 per year.
• Digital subscription at £2.99 per month: £2.99 x 12 = £35.88 per year.
• Annual print subscription option from £20 per year: £20.00 per year.
• Sale price per issue from £1 during offers. Example: 12 issues at £1.00 = £12.00 per year.

Example saving if you cancel a £2.99 monthly digital subscription and switch to an annual print option from £20: £35.88 - £20.00 = £15.88 saved per year. Example saving if you cancel a £1.99 monthly digital subscription and switch to 12 sale single issues at £1: £23.88 - £12.00 = £11.88 saved per year.

Key UK laws

The main legal protections are the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 which include a 14-day cooling-off period for distance sales; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill; and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 which includes Chapter 2 on cooling-off rights and rules on renewals. For the cooling-off rules see the legislation: Cooling-off rights 2024.

Auto-renewal and unfair terms

The Competition and Markets Authority treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potentially unfair. You are entitled to clear information about renewal notices and any renewal cooling-off period. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, a trader must not impose a cancellation penalty for statutory cooling-off.

How to escalate

1) Complain to Great Magazines first and keep records. 2) If unresolved, contact Citizens Advice for guidance. 3) For payments by credit card, consider Section 75 or a chargeback through your card issuer. 4) If the issue involves regulated sectors, escalate to the relevant ombudsman. For persistent unfair practices, report to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Confirm cancellation

After canceling, keep the confirmation screen or confirmation email. If you canceled by post, keep proof of postage and the signed-for receipt.

Check billing and refunds

Monitor your bank or card statement for any further charges. If you canceled within a 14-day cooling-off period and paid online, you are entitled to a refund under Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you are refused a refund for an auto-renewal charge you dispute, consider contacting your card issuer for chargeback or Section 75 if you paid by credit card.

Access to issues and data

Digital content access after cancellation depends on your subscription terms; if access is provided until the paid period ends, you will typically keep access until that date. Request data deletion or retention details via the contact page and retain any confirmation in writing.

Re-activation

If you want to restart later, you can re-subscribe via the main subscriptions page: Subscriptions. Re-subscription may be subject to new offers or different pricing.

Use this checklist to make cancellation quick and secure.

• Log into MyAccount and attempt the online cancel flow; take a screenshot of confirmation.
• If online is not possible, send a signed cancellation letter by recorded delivery to Great Magazines, Tower House, LE16 9EF Market Harborough, United Kingdom and keep proof of postage.
• If you paid via Apple or Google, cancel in your Apple ID or Google Play subscriptions and keep the store confirmation.
• If the charge occurred during a trial and within 14 days, request a refund citing the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
• Save all emails, screenshots and bank statements showing payments and the cancellation confirmation.
• If refused a refund after an auto-renewal, contact the card issuer for chargeback or check Section 75 for credit card payments.