Cancel Prima Magazine the easy way

Overview

Prima Magazine is a UK lifestyle and craft magazine aimed at mid-life women. It covers crafting, fashion, beauty, home decor, cooking, health and family life. The title is part of a larger magazines group and offers both print and digital subscriptions.

Offer types

Prima is available as a print subscription, digital in-app subscriptions and membership packages combining print and digital access. Digital-only annual prices start at £17.99 via in-app purchase. Print subscription offers include introductory bundles such as 6 issues for £6 or annual plans from £24.99.

Quick company facts

Web cancellation (step-by-step)

1. Go to the Prima subscription website or your Hearst customer account at Official subscription page.
2. Log in with the email used to subscribe.
3. Find your active subscription and select the cancel option.
4. Confirm cancellation and save or screenshot the confirmation page.
5. Expect an email confirmation after processing; keep it as proof.

App Store (Apple) cancellation

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name.
2. Tap Subscriptions and find Prima.
3. Turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
4. Note that App Store subscriptions do not allow cancelling to get a refund for the current active period; you keep access until the period ends.
5. Save the Apple confirmation email or screenshot.

Phone cancellation

1. Call 01858 438 838 or 01858 438 419 during opening hours (weekdays 08:00-21:30, Saturdays 08:00-16:00).
2. Provide your full name, delivery address, subscription number and email.
3. Ask the agent for a cancellation reference or email confirmation.
4. Record the reference and save the confirmation email for proof.

Email cancellation

1. Send an email from the account used to subscribe to [email protected].
2. Include your name, address, subscription number, reason for cancellation and desired cancellation date.
3. Request a written confirmation and keep the reply.

Post cancellation (written notice)

1. Write a dated cancellation letter including your account details and signature.
2. Send by Recorded Delivery or Signed For to Hearst Magazines UK subscriptions at Tower House address below, or to the Prima postal cancellation address if you prefer.
3. Keep the delivery receipt as proof of posting and delivery.

Customer account via Hearst

1. Sign in to your Hearst customer account at Hearst FAQ / account area.
2. Locate the subscription and select cancel.
3. Save confirmation and any reference number.

Moving address

If you move and the magazine can no longer be delivered to your new address, provide proof such as a utility bill, tenancy agreement or change of address confirmation. Prima may accept relocation as a ground to cancel a subscription early when delivery is impossible. Follow the same evidence standard used by other UK publishers when disputing delivery claims.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 for service performance.

Price increase

If Prima increases a recurring payment during an ongoing contract, you are entitled to cancel if the contract terms allow cancellation for price rises. Keep the written notice of the price change sent by the publisher as proof and quote the communication when you cancel.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 and CMA guidance on automatic renewals and contract changes.

Death of subscriber

If the named subscriber dies, provide a copy of the death certificate and the account details. The publisher will normally terminate future deliveries and stop charges when valid proof is supplied.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Legitimate ground and special circumstances

Prima may require supporting documents for legitimate grounds such as long-term hospitalisation or proven inability to receive or use the subscription. Hearst Magazines has policies that may require returning promotional gifts if cancellation is before a minimum term ends. Keep delivery tracking, gift receipts and correspondence to support your claim.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

End of commitment or fixed-term subscriptions

Fixed-term subscriptions that run for a set number of issues usually end automatically at the final issue. To stop a renewal after the fixed term, give notice at least 6-8 weeks before the renewal date. Use the contract end date as proof when asking service to stop renewal.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for contract formation and terms.

Cooling-off period (14 days)

For distance contracts concluded online, phone or post, you have a 14-day cooling-off period from when you receive your first magazine to cancel without giving a reason and receive a full refund, subject to the exception for supplied digital content where download started with consent. Send a cancellation within 14 days and request a full refund in line with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Before cancelling: negotiate

There are no retention offers explicitly published in the research data for Prima. To ask for a discount or retention offer, call 01858 438 838 or 01858 438 419 and request the retention team, or email [email protected]. Tell the agent your cancel reason and ask directly for any available offers such as discounted renewal, extension of introductory price or a switch to a cheaper plan. If you have a promotional gift, note that some offers require keeping the minimum term or returning gifts if you cancel early.

What cancelling saves you

Calculate annual cost savings by comparing your current monthly rate to alternatives. Examples from Prima pricing data:

• Prima Membership Annual at £12.00 per year: 12 months x £1.00 = £12.00 per year saved if you cancel this subscription.
• Prima App annual in-app purchase at £17.99 per year: 12 months x £1.49 = £17.99 per year.
• Prima Print 1 year via isubscribe at £24.99: 12 months x £2.08 = £24.99 per year.
• Prima Print standard 6 issues at £16.99 every 6 issues corresponds to roughly 12 months cost of £33.98 per year (assuming two 6-issue payments): 2 x £16.99 = £33.98 per year.
• Prima Print annual via Direct Debit from £26.99 per year: 12 months x from £2.25 = £26.99 per year.

Cheapest real alternative from available Prima offers is the Prima Membership Annual at £12.00 per year. To save money immediately, cancel a higher-cost plan such as the 6-issue standard plan that amounts to about £33.98 per year and switch to a £12.00 annual membership to save £21.98 per year (calculation: £33.98 - £12.00 = £21.98).

Key UK consumer law

Your cancellation and refund rights are protected in the United Kingdom by the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 gives a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts concluded online, by phone or post. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill and prevents unfair contract terms such as disproportionate cancellation penalties.

Auto-renewal and unfair practices

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potential unfair practices. If Prima uses unclear renewal information or makes cancellation difficult, you can raise the issue with Citizens Advice and the CMA. For disputes, use the trader complaint route first, then escalate to Citizens Advice for guidance on next steps.

Payment remedies

If cancellation is refused and you paid by credit card, you may have protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for qualifying card payments or you can request a card chargeback from your bank for disputed charges. Keep all correspondence, receipts and Proof of Posting as evidence.

How to escalate

First complain in writing to Prima via [email protected] or Registered Delivery to the subscription address. If unresolved, contact Citizens Advice, then report issues to the CMA for unfair contract terms. For payment disputes, contact your card issuer for chargeback or Section 75 advice.

Check access dates

After cancellation you may continue to receive issues until the end of the paid period. Keep the cancellation confirmation and check the final delivery date or digital access expiry shown in the confirmation email.

Data and account

Decide whether to ask Prima to delete your account data or keep it for re-activation. Request a copy of your account data by emailing [email protected] if you want records before deletion.

Final billing and refunds

If you cancelled within the 14-day cooling-off period and notified Prima in writing, request a full refund. For refunds outside the cooling-off period, request a pro-rata refund if you believe the publisher's terms allow it; otherwise the publisher may decline for fixed-term subscriptions. Keep bank statements and confirmation emails for four months to support any dispute.

Re-activation

To restart your subscription later, you can re-subscribe online or via the Prima app. If you had a promotional price originally, note that promotional rates may not be available on re-subscription.

Follow this checklist to cancel Prima with evidence and protect your rights.

• Find your subscription number and the payment method used.
• Decide which cancellation channel to use - Web or Phone are fastest.
• If cancelling by post, prepare a signed letter and send by Recorded Delivery to the postal address and keep the receipt.
• If cancelling via the App Store, turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the period end.
• Save all confirmation emails, screenshots and call reference numbers.
• If within 14 days of receiving the first magazine, request a refund and reference the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
• If you paid by credit card and a refund is refused, prepare to contact your card issuer for chargeback or Section 75 guidance.