Cancel Hearst the easy way

Overview

Hearst is a global media company that publishes magazines and digital content across lifestyle, fashion, health and entertainment titles. The UK division operates magazine subscriptions, digital products and membership offers for titles such as Good Housekeeping, Esquire and Country Living.

What the UK service includes

Hearst UK sells print subscriptions, digital-only subscriptions and combined digital plus print packages with membership benefits and occasional promotional boxed items.

How Hearst sells subscriptions

Subscriptions are offered via direct sign-up pages, apps and campaigns. Orders usually include an automatic renewal clause and a renewal schedule shown during purchase.

Web (self-service portal)

1. Go to your Hearst account sign-in on the Hearst site.
2. Open the subscription or renewals area and follow the cancel link for your product.
3. Save or screenshot any on-screen confirmation and check your email for confirmation.
4. If you cannot find the portal, use the customer service page at Hearst customer service.

iOS / App Store subscriptions

1. If you subscribed via Apple in-app purchase, cancel through the App Store subscription settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open Settings - tap your name - Subscriptions - select the Hearst app subscription - Cancel Subscription.
3. For app-specific questions see Hearst digital FAQ.

Android / Google Play subscriptions

1. If you subscribed through Google Play, open the Google Play app, go to Payments and subscriptions - Subscriptions - select the Hearst product - Cancel.
2. Keep a screenshot of the Play Store cancellation confirmation.

Phone

1. Call +44 (0)1858 438838 and request cancellation of renewal or subscription; state your subscriber name and order number.
2. Ask the agent for a cancellation reference and the effective date of cancellation.
3. If the agent offers a retention deal, decline if you want to cancel permanently and confirm in writing.

Email

1. Send a clear cancellation message with your name, address, order number and contact number to [email protected].
2. Mark the message as 'Cancellation request' and keep a copy of the sent email.
3. Note: public customer reports indicate emails may not be monitored; follow up by phone if you receive no reply.

Post (registered letter)

1. Write a cancellation letter with subscriber name, address, order number and a clear statement you wish to cancel the subscription.
2. Send by recorded or registered post to: Hearst, Panton Street, SW1Y 4AJ London, United Kingdom.
3. Keep the proof of postage and signed delivery receipt.

Moving address

If you move and the subscription cannot be delivered, provide proof of move such as a utility bill or change-of-address confirmation to customer service. Hearst's terms state products dispatched affect refunds; supply the date of move and delivery interruption.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for cancellation rights where goods are not received as promised.

Price increase

If Hearst raises the price on renewal, you can accept the new price or cancel before the renewal date. Provide the renewal notice or the price change communication as proof. The trader must give advance notice of renewal and any cooling-off for each renewal under the Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024.

Applicable law: Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024 - cooling-off and renewal notices.

Death of subscriber

To cancel due to the death of the subscriber, send a copy of the death certificate and a clear instruction to cancel to Hearst by post or email. Include the subscription reference.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 provisions on unfair contract terms and obligations; supply of documentary proof is standard practice.

Legitimate ground / service failure

Legitimate grounds include failure to deliver paid issues or defective service. Provide order references and examples (missed issues dates). Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be performed with reasonable care and skill. If Hearst failed to deliver, request a refund or compensation with evidence.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

End of commitment

If your subscription term ends, cancel renewal at least 28 days before the end of the subscription term. You can cancel the renewal earlier via the self-service portal or by contacting customer service. Proof is the cancellation confirmation or recorded call reference.

Applicable law: Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024 - renewal notice and cancellation rights.

Cooling-off (change of mind)

For online contracts you have a 14 day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. For Digital Only subscriptions you have 14 days from the date the order is confirmed. For Digital + Print or Memberships you have 14 days from receipt of the first physical issue or product, whichever is earlier. To claim a refund within cooling-off, contact Hearst at +44 (0)1858 438838 or via customer service. Refunds are processed within 14 days (up to 28 days for cheques).

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013; Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024 for renewal cooling-off notices.

Before you cancel: negotiate

When you call +44 (0)1858 438838 ask explicitly for retention offers and mention you will cancel if no better price or package is offered. Research and reviews note that Hearst customer service commonly presents renewal offers; customers report being presented new "offers" when calling to cancel. If you want to keep the service for less, request the current promotional price and ask for the exact end date of the promotional term in writing.

What cancelling saves you

Use these real plan prices to compute annual cost and saving if you cancel a monthly plan:

• Good Housekeeping Classic Membership - monthly £4.75. Yearly cost if on monthly payments: 4.75 x 12 = £57.00. Hearst lists an annual price of £56.93.
• Good Housekeeping discounted monthly £1.56. Yearly cost if on monthly payments: 1.56 x 12 = £18.72. Hearst lists an annual price of £18.75.
• Esquire Print + Digital - monthly £5.83. Yearly cost if on monthly payments: 5.83 x 12 = £69.96. Hearst lists an annual price of £69.99.
• Esquire discounted monthly £3.33. Yearly cost if on monthly payments: 3.33 x 12 = £39.96. Hearst lists an annual price of £39.99.
• Country Living Magazine Membership - monthly £4.75. Yearly cost: 4.75 x 12 = £57.00 and annual listed as £56.93.

Example saving: Cancelling an Esquire Print + Digital monthly at £5.83 stops payments of 5.83 x 12 = £69.96 per year.

Cheapest real alternative: a discounted annual Hearst offer is sometimes available, for example a discounted Good Housekeeping annual at £18.75 - this is the lowest priced Hearst option listed. Compare that to Readly digital magazine access if you want a multi-title alternative; check vendor pricing before subscribing.

UK consumer law that applies

Key laws include the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (services must be performed with reasonable care and skill) and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (14 day cooling-off for online and off-premises contracts). For subscription-specific rules see the Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024 which requires cooling-off notices for renewals.

Auto-renewal and hard-to-cancel practices

The Competition and Markets Authority considers unclear auto-renewal terms and hard-to-cancel subscriptions as potentially unfair. If you face aggressive renewal tactics, record the conversation and escalate if necessary.

How to escalate

1) Complain to Hearst first, keep all evidence. 2) If unresolved, seek advice from Citizens Advice. 3) For card payments, consider a Section 75 claim or a chargeback via your card issuer. 4) If the subscription falls into a regulated sector (for some B2B contracts), escalate to the relevant ombudsman. Use the exact legal texts where relevant: Subscription Contracts (Protection of Consumers) Act 2024 - cooling-off rights.

Check final billing and refunds

After cancellation, check your bank or card statement for any final charges. If you cancelled within the 14 day cooling-off period, Hearst will refund within 14 days (or up to 28 days for cheques). Keep evidence of the cancellation request and refund confirmation.

Access and deliveries

If you paid by Direct Debit you may continue to receive issues until the end of the last paid period. If you return a dispatched physical product, send it unopened and keep proof of return if seeking a refund.

Data and re-activation

Request confirmation of data retention or deletion if you do not want your details kept for marketing. If you later re-subscribe, request any loyalty or introductory offers in writing.

Follow this checklist to cancel cleanly and protect your rights.

• Find your order number and account email.
• Decide cancellation channel: phone (+44 (0)1858 438838), web portal, post to Hearst, or cancel DD via your bank.
• If using phone, request a cancellation reference number and the effective date; write it down.
• If using post, send a recorded delivery letter to Hearst, Panton Street, SW1Y 4AJ London and keep proof of delivery.
• If you are within 14 days of purchase, state you are exercising the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 cooling-off right.
• Keep screenshots, emails, bank statements and any returned parcel tracking numbers.
• If you do not get a refund or confirmation, escalate to Citizens Advice and consider chargeback or Section 75 for qualifying card payments.