Cancel The New Scientist the easy way

Overview

The New Scientist is a weekly science and technology magazine and digital publisher covering research, health, environment and technology. It offers print issues, a full website, an app, audio versions and an archive of past articles.

Products

The New Scientist sells multiple subscription products: free account access, digital subscriptions (including student pricing) and combined print and online subscriptions with weekly delivery.

Audience and reach

The publication targets readers who follow science developments, technology trends, health news and environmental reporting.

Web (account) - detailed steps

1. Sign in at your New Scientist account page.
2. Go to subscription or billing section and follow the 'cancel' option if visible.
3. If you cannot access your account, note that research shows many users report login issues; prepare your 8-digit subscription number and contact support.
4. If an online cancel button is not available, send an email to [email protected] with your name, address and 8-digit subscription number.

iOS - detailed steps

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name then Subscriptions, find New Scientist and tap Cancel Subscription.
3. Keep the Apple confirmation email as proof.

Android - detailed steps

1. Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap Payments & subscriptions then Subscriptions, select New Scientist and tap Cancel subscription.
3. Keep the Google Play confirmation as proof; note app-store purchases may lack full web access per New Scientist help.

Email - detailed steps

1. Compose an email to [email protected].
2. Include your full name, postal address and 8-digit subscription number as stated in New Scientist guidance.
3. Ask explicitly for cancellation and, if within 14 days of start or renewal, request a refund under your cooling-off rights.
4. Save the sent email and any reply.

Post - detailed steps

1. Write a signed letter including your full name, address and 8-digit subscription number and a clear statement that you wish to cancel the subscription.
2. Send by registered post to The New Scientist, 110 High Holborn, WC1V 6EU London, United Kingdom.
3. Keep the certificate of posting and any delivery receipt as proof.

PayPal billing - detailed steps

1. Email [email protected] to notify them you wish to cancel and include your subscription details.
2. Log into PayPal, go to Profile > My money > Update in My preapproved payments, select New Scientist Ltd. and click Cancel.
3. Keep screenshots from PayPal and your email records.

Cooling-off period

If you cancel within 14 days of the start or any renewal of your subscription you are entitled to a refund of payments received. New Scientist states refunds will be made using the same payment method without undue delay and not later than 14 days after being informed of the decision to cancel. To claim this, notify New Scientist clearly (email or registered post) and keep proof of your notification. Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the cooling-off rights referenced by UK legislation at UK cooling-off rights.

End of commitment / post-cooling-off cancellation

If you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period, New Scientist's policy is that the subscription will continue until the end of the current minimum subscription or payment term. There is no explicit refund for the remaining paid period in the public guidance. Evidence to provide: name, address and 8-digit subscription number. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 for contract fairness.

Price increase

New Scientist may apply changes to subscription pricing. If a price increase materially alters the service you can contact customer service to seek termination or negotiate. The exact policy on unilateral price increases is not publicly detailed by New Scientist; provide your subscription details and any notice you received as proof. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 addresses unfair contract terms.

Moving abroad

If you move address, inform New Scientist and include proof such as a change-of-address confirmation or utility bill. New Scientist's public help pages do not list a specific relocation cancellation rule; therefore send your request to [email protected] and include proof. Applicable law: Contracts and reasonable performance obligations under Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Death of subscriber

The New Scientist does not publish a formal public process for subscriber death. If you need to cancel because of a subscriber death, contact [email protected] and be prepared to supply a death certificate and proof of your authority (executor or next of kin). Applicable law: Not a specific statute in the research; use evidence to confirm entitlement to cancel.

Legitimate grounds accepted by The New Scientist

The New Scientist has not published a definitive list of accepted legitimate grounds for immediate cancellation beyond cooling-off rights. For grounds not publicly specified, submit evidence to [email protected] and cite your reason. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Before you cancel: how to negotiate

Research shows no consistent public reports of retention offers from New Scientist. There is a specific student offer: 10 weeks for £10 for students, which then rolls into a discounted quarterly or annual subscription. To ask for a retention or discount, email [email protected], reference your subscription number and request any available promotional pricing or a downgrade to a digital-only plan. Keep the reply as proof.

What cancelling saves you - numeric calculations

Calculate annual costs from published prices:

• Print & Online (UK): £18 per month x 12 = £216 per year.
• Digital Access Student: £6.58 per month x 12 = £78.96, listed as £79 per year in New Scientist offers.
• Free Account: £0 per month, £0 per year.
• Cover price comparison: 51 issues at £6.95 per issue = £6.95 x 51 = £354.45 per year; subscription at £216 is a stated saving of 39% (research source).

If you cancel a Print & Online subscription at £216/year and switch to BBC Science Focus annual at £24.99/year, your saving is £216 - £24.99 = £191.01 per year. The cheapest documented alternative in the research is BBC Science Focus at £24.99 per year.

Key UK consumer laws

Your cancellation and refund rights are governed by the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for the 14-day cooling-off period and by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 for unfair contract terms and the requirement that services are performed with reasonable care and skill.

Regulators and escalation steps

If New Scientist refuses lawful rights or makes cancellation hard you can escalate: first complain to New Scientist in writing; then contact Citizens Advice for guidance; if payment was by credit card you can consider Section 75 or a chargeback with your card issuer. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) scrutinises unfair auto-renewal and hard-to-cancel subscriptions.

Statutory refund timing

When cancelling within 14 days the trader must refund using the same payment method without undue delay and not later than 14 days after being informed of the decision to cancel. This is stated in New Scientist's public refund policy and is consistent with Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

Confirm access and content

Keep any confirmation email or registered-post receipt. If you cancelled an app-store subscription, your app access may differ from web access; app-store purchases often do not include full newscientist.com access according to New Scientist help pages.

Check final billing and refunds

If you cancelled within 14 days request a refund and check your bank or card; New Scientist states refunds will be processed within 14 days after notification. If you do not receive a refund, contact your card issuer to consider a chargeback or Section 75 claim for qualifying purchases.

Data and re-activation

If you wish to re-subscribe later you can sign up again; archived articles and subscriber-only features may require a new subscription. For data requests or account issues contact support via the help page at New Scientist help.

Follow this checklist to cancel cleanly and preserve your rights.

• Find your 8-digit subscription number in a recent issue or email.
• Decide the cancellation method: email or registered post recommended for a written record.
• If within 14 days, explicitly request a refund and cite your cooling-off right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
• Email [email protected] or send a signed registered letter to The New Scientist, 110 High Holborn, WC1V 6EU London, United Kingdom.
• Keep copies of emails, registered post receipts, and any response from New Scientist.
• If you paid by PayPal cancel the preapproved payment in your PayPal profile as well, and keep screenshots.
• If you do not receive a satisfactory reply, contact Citizens Advice and consider a card chargeback or Section 75 claim if eligible.