Cancel Hearst Magazines UK the easy way

Overview

Hearst Magazines UK publishes a portfolio of consumer magazines and digital editions across lifestyle, fashion, health, home and food. It trades as The National Magazine Company Limited and operates brands such as ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and others.

Offerings

Hearst sells print subscriptions, digital subscriptions and combined print plus digital memberships. Digital editions are delivered via apps on Apple and Android, and some titles offer membership benefits like newsletters and archives.

Company facts

For help pages see Hearst customer service and subscription details at digital magazine subscriptions.

Web - using the Hearst self-service portal

1. Visit the Hearst site and sign in to your account.
2. Open the subscriptions or account settings area.
3. Select the active subscription and choose to cancel automatic renewal.
4. Confirm cancellation and keep or screenshot the on-screen confirmation.
5. If you cannot find the portal link, consult Hearst FAQ.

iOS - cancel in-app (Apple)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name.
2. Tap Subscriptions, locate the Hearst title, and Cancel Subscription.
3. Keep the Apple confirmation email or screenshot.
4. For app issues see Hearst digital FAQ.

Android - cancel in-app (Google Play)

1. Open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile, then Payments and subscriptions.
2. Tap Subscriptions, select the Hearst title, and Cancel subscription.
3. Save the Google Play confirmation email or screenshot.

Phone - call customer service

1. Call +44 (0)1858 438 838 and have your order number and name ready.
2. Request cancellation of automatic renewal or the subscription.
3. Ask the agent for a reference number and for a confirmation email to be sent.

Email and post - written cancellation

1. Email [email protected] with subscriber name, order number and date of birth; request cancellation and confirm whether you want a refund.
2. To cancel by post sign and send a letter to Hearst Magazines UK, 30 Panton Street, SW1Y 4AJ London, United Kingdom. Send as registered post and keep proof of posting.

Moving address - what to provide

If you move and the subscription cannot be delivered you may cancel by emailing [email protected] with proof of new address such as a council tax bill or utility bill dated within the last three months. Hearst's public pages do not list a specific form; provide the subscriber name, order number and new address.

Price increase

If Hearst raises the subscription price you can cancel and ask for a refund for future payments. Provide the renewal notice or email from Hearst showing the price change. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

Death of the subscriber

To cancel due to the death of the subscriber send a copy of the death certificate and your relationship to the account to [email protected] or by post. Hearst's public policies do not list a different contact for bereavement requests; include order number and delivery address.

Cooling-off period (14 days)

You have a 14-day cooling-off period for most online subscriptions. For Digital Only subscriptions the 14 days starts from confirmation of the order. For Digital plus Print subscriptions the 14 days starts from receipt of the first physical issue or product, whichever is earlier. To exercise the cooling-off right send a clear cancellation message within 14 days to [email protected] and request a refund. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

End of minimum commitment

If your subscription included a minimum commitment period and that period ends, you may cancel at the end of the commitment without penalty. Hearst does not publish a single universal minimum commitment; check your order confirmation for the specific term. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 for fairness of contract terms.

Before you cancel - how to ask for retention offers

Call +44 (0)1858 438 838 and say you want to cancel. Research reviews show Hearst often offers retention deals when customers contact them by phone. If you prefer written proof, email [email protected] asking if a retention offer is available and request any offer in writing before accepting. Research review example: "To cancel your renewal, you will need to call their helpline (their email inboxes are unmanned) and you will need to repeatedly ask for the auto-renewal to be cancelled otherwise they'll try and get you to take on a new 'offer'" (Trustpilot).

What cancelling saves you - yearly savings from real plans

Compute annual cost and savings using published Hearst plans:

• Good Housekeeping Digital Membership: £0.17 per month equals £0.17 x 12 = £2.04 per year (but the annual price is listed as £1).
• Esquire Digital subscription: listed at £9.99 per year equals £9.99 per year.
• Cosmopolitan Digital subscription: £0.42 per month equals £0.42 x 12 = £5.04 per year, annual price listed as £5.
• Women_s Health Digital: £19.99 per year equals £19.99 per year.

Example saving: cancelling a Women_s Health Digital at £19.99 per year saves £19.99 per year. Cancelling Esquire at £9.99 per year saves £9.99 per year. The cheapest real alternative among the listed Hearst offers is Good Housekeeping Digital Membership at an annual price of £1 per year.

Key UK consumer law

The main laws protecting your cancellation and refund rights are the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The regulator is the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Regulations provide a 14-day cooling-off period for most online contracts.

Refunds and digital content

If you cancel within 14 days you are entitled to a refund within 14 days of the trader receiving the returned goods or proof of return. For digital content the right to a refund may end if you expressly agreed that download or streaming would start during the cooling-off period and you acknowledged losing the right to cancel. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Escalation steps

If Hearst refuses a valid refund or is not responding: 1) submit a formal complaint to Hearst via [email protected]; 2) contact Citizens Advice for guidance; 3) use Section 75 or a chargeback with your card issuer for qualifying card payments; 4) report unfair practices to the CMA. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 and CMA guidance on auto-renewal practices.

Check access and final billing

After cancellation verify whether your subscription ends immediately or at the end of the paid period. If you cancelled an auto-renewal online you should receive on-screen confirmation and an email. If you cancelled a Direct Debit with your bank you may continue to receive issues until the end of the paid period and you may still see a final payment on your bank statement.

Data and re-activation

Request confirmation of data retention and whether your account can be reactivated later. If you want to re-subscribe keep your account credentials. For account closure or data requests email [email protected].

Use this checklist to ensure a clean cancellation and protect your rights.

• Have your order number, subscriber name and payment method ready.
• Try the self-service portal first and save screenshots of confirmation.
• If cancelling by phone, ask for a reference number and request a confirmation email.
• If cancelling by email, send from your registered email and keep sent message and replies.
• If cancelling by post, send a signed registered letter to 30 Panton Street and keep proof of posting.
• If cancelling a Direct Debit, also notify your bank and keep bank confirmation.
• If within 14 days, request a refund and cite the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.