Cancel Times Online the easy way

Overview

Times Online provides digital and print news content under the Times brand. It offers tiered subscriptions for smartphone-only access, unlimited digital access, print weekend bundles and combined print and digital packages.

Main offers

Key plans include Basic Digital smartphone-only at £1/month introductory, Digital unlimited access starting at £1 for introductory periods then standard rates such as £26/month, Weekend Print + Digital at £43.33/month and Digital + 7 Day Print at £67.16/month. Student pricing is available at £0.83/month when billed as £9.99/year for a fixed promotional period.

Company facts

Official subscription and terms pages: Terms and conditions, Subscribe FAQs, Digital plans.

Web / Live Chat

1. Go to www.thetimes.com/help.
2. Open the live chat and state your registered email and subscription details.
3. Request cancellation and ask for a written confirmation to your email.
4. Save the chat transcript or confirmation email for proof.

iOS (App Store)

1. On your iPhone/iPad open Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap Subscriptions, find the Times subscription and tap Cancel Subscription.
3. Keep the App Store confirmation screenshot as proof.
4. Note: subscriptions started via the App Store must be cancelled there, not on the Times website.

Android (Google Play)

1. Open the Google Play app and tap your profile icon.
2. Choose Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
3. Select The Times subscription and tap Cancel subscription.
4. Save the Google Play cancellation confirmation screenshot.

Phone

1. Call 0800 018 5177 (UK) or 1800 949 687 (Ireland).
2. Provide your full name, registered email and subscription reference.
3. Request immediate confirmation by email or a reference number.
4. Note operating hours: 8:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday; 8:00 to 16:00 weekends and bank holidays.

Email

1. Send an email from your registered address to [email protected] with subject "Cancel subscription" and include your name, address and subscription details.
2. Keep a copy of the sent message and the reply confirmation.

Post

1. Write a signed cancellation letter including your full name, address, account email and a clear statement that you wish to cancel.
2. Send by recorded delivery to Times Online, 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF London, United Kingdom.
3. Keep proof of posting and await written confirmation.

Cooling-off (cancel within 14 days)

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 you have a 14-day right to cancel online or off-premises service contracts. If you cancel within 14 days you are entitled to a refund of payments received. Refunds are processed as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after cancellation. Times Online notes that if you cancel within the first 14 days you forfeit any sign-up offers or vouchers received.

Required proof: proof of purchase (order confirmation email) and a clear statement of cancellation by email to [email protected] or phone. Law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.

End of minimum commitment

If your plan has a minimum commitment such as 3 months for Weekend Print + Digital or Digital + 7 Day Print, your cancellation right after the minimum term becomes monthly rolling. For voucher print subscriptions you must call at least 15 days before the end of your 13-week voucher book to avoid automatic renewal for another 13-week voucher book.

Required proof: account details and subscription reference. Applicable regulation: contract terms governed by Consumer Rights Act 2015 for fairness of terms.

Price increase

If Times Online raises the price during a fixed term, review your contract and the terms and conditions in their terms. The contract may allow you to cancel if the increase is outside the agreed terms. Provide the price change notice and your subscription agreement as proof.

Required proof: notification of price increase sent by Times and your subscription contract. Laws: Consumer Rights Act 2015 protections on unfair terms; escalate to Citizens Advice if needed.

Death of subscriber

For bereavement cancellation contact Customer Services on 0800 018 5177 or by email to request termination. Provide a copy of the death certificate or other official confirmation when requested.

Required proof: death certificate or equivalent official document. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 for contract termination on legitimate grounds.

Legitimate ground / serious reasons

Times Online accepts legitimate grounds such as prolonged hospitalisation or loss of ability to use the service. Provide documentary evidence such as medical certificates or official notices.

Required proof: medical certificate, legal notice. Law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Before cancelling: negotiate

Times Online customer services handle retention requests. The public research available does not list specific retention offers guaranteed to be available. To attempt negotiation: call 0800 018 5177, explain you want to cancel and ask for available discounts or an alternative lower-cost plan. If your subscription was via App Store or Google Play, ask whether Times can provide a direct offer or if you need to change via the store.

What cancelling saves you

Example calculation for Digital (Unlimited access) at standard rate £26/month: £26 x 12 = £312/year. Cheapest competitor from the research is The Week UK at £2.50/month: £2.50 x 12 = £30/year. Yearly saving by switching from standard Times Digital to The Week UK: £312 - £30 = £282/year.

Other concrete plan yearly costs from Times Online:

• Basic Digital introductory £1/month for 3 months then £20/month standard - first year example: (3 x £1) + (9 x £20) = £183 first year.
• Weekend Print + Digital £43.33 x 12 = £519.96/year.
• Digital + 7 Day Print £67.16 x 12 = £805.92/year.
• Student £9.99/year for specified promotional period = £9.99/year.

Use these calculations when comparing plans and when requesting a retention offer from Customer Services. The cheapest real alternative listed in research is The Week UK at £2.50/month (£30/year).

Key UK consumer law

Relevant laws include the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (14-day cooling-off rights) and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (services performed with reasonable care and skill; unfair contract terms). The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) monitors auto-renewal and hard-to-cancel subscriptions.

How to escalate

If Times Online will not honour statutory rights, complain first to the trader in writing. If unresolved seek help from Citizens Advice at Citizens Advice - cancelling a service. For payment disputes use Section 75 for qualifying card payments or request a chargeback from the card issuer. The CMA can be contacted about unfair subscription terms.

Cooling-off specifics

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give a 14-day cancellation window for most online or off-premises contracts. Digital content downloaded or streamed may be excluded once the consumer gives express consent to start the service and acknowledges loss of the right to cancel.

Unfair practices

The CMA treats unclear auto-renewal and hard-to-cancel processes as potentially unfair. Keep records of cancellation requests, chat transcripts and confirmation emails to support a complaint.

Check access and final billing

After cancellation verify whether access stops immediately or at the end of the paid period. If cancelled within 14 days and you requested a refund, expect refund processing within 14 days. Keep the cancellation confirmation email and any refund reference.

Data and account

Decide whether to request account deletion or to keep your account for future reactivation. Email [email protected] to request data deletion and keep a copy of your request.

Re-activation

If you decide to re-subscribe later, note introductory offers may not apply and you may be charged the standard rate such as £26/month for Digital unlimited access.

Follow this checklist to cancel and protect your rights.

• Find your order confirmation email and subscription details.
• Decide the cancellation channel: phone (0800 018 5177), email ([email protected]), live chat (Help centre), App Store or Google Play if subscribed via those stores.
• If within 14 days, send cancellation notice and request refund; keep proof.
• If via App Store/Google Play, cancel in the relevant store and save the confirmation screenshot.
• If sending post, use recorded delivery to Times Online, 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF London, United Kingdom and keep proof of posting.
• Request written confirmation and a refund reference if applicable.
• Record dates and times of calls and save chat transcripts and emails.