Cancel Independent the easy way

Overview

Independent is a publisher and subscription service that provides digital news, premium analysis, a daily digital newspaper, audio articles and subscriber-only features. Subscriptions are offered on the Independent website and through mobile app stores.

Main services

Subscribers gain ad-free reading, audio articles, daily briefings and puzzles. Plans include monthly and annual options and student pricing.

Company facts

Web cancellation (Official)

1. Open https://www.independent.co/ and log in to your account.
2. Click Account Overview.
3. Choose Subscription & billing.
4. Switch the Auto-renewal button to OFF.
5. Confirm on-screen that Auto-renewal is OFF; the subscription remains active until the next due payment date.
6. Save a screenshot of the setting for your records.

iOS - cancel via Apple

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions.
3. Find The Independent in the list.
4. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.
5. Keep Apple confirmation email or screenshot as proof.
6. Apple handles refunds and reactivations for App Store purchases.

Android - cancel via Google Play

1. Open Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon then Payments & subscriptions then Subscriptions.
3. Select The Independent and tap Cancel subscription.
4. Keep Google Play confirmation email as proof.
5. Google handles refunds for Play Store purchases.

Phone

1. Independent does not publish a dedicated phone cancellation number. Use the contact page to request callback or assistance: Contact support.
2. If you prefer voice, request a callback through the help centre form and record the ticket ID.

Email / Contact form

1. Open the official help centre contact article: Contact us.
2. Choose the relevant subscription topic and send a request to cancel if you cannot access your account.
3. Save the ticket ID and any reply as proof.

Post

1. Send a signed registered letter to Independent, Crown Way, CF14 3UZ Cardiff, United Kingdom stating your full name, email used for subscription, and request to cancel Auto-renewal.
2. Keep proof of posting and delivery receipt.
3. Allow 14 days for processing after delivery.

Moving abroad or relocation

If you relocate and can no longer use the service in your new jurisdiction, contact Independent via the help centre to explain the change and include proof such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement showing your new address. Independent terms do not publish a specific relocation cancellation policy; use the contact form and request exception referencing the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 if the contract was concluded remotely and within the cooling-off period.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 - see 2013 Regulations.

Price increase

If Independent increases the subscription price during a contract term, you may have the right to cancel. Provide the notification you received showing the price rise and the effective date. Independent's public terms state disputes are governed by English law. Raise the cancellation citing the price increase and request confirmation of cancellation without penalty.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to unfair contract terms; the Subscription Contracts Act 2024 provides protections for subscription changes.

Death of the subscriber

To cancel on grounds of death, contact Independent via the help centre and supply a copy of the death certificate and proof of your authority to act for the estate. Independent's published help does not list a separate bereavement policy; use the contact form and request account closure.

Legitimate ground / material breach

Legitimate grounds include clear failure by Independent to provide paid subscription services with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Collect evidence: screenshots of missing access, payment receipts and correspondence. Submit these via the help centre and request cancellation and refund if the breach continues after you report it.

Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015.

End of commitment

If your subscription is a fixed-term annual plan that expires, the subscription will not renew if you turn off Auto-renewal in your account before renewal date. Check expiry date in your account or via subscription expiry.

Cooling-off and trial cancellation

If you cancel during a free trial or within the initial cooling-off period under the Subscription Contracts Act 2024, no payments are due and you may be entitled to cancel without charge. If you purchased via Apple or Google Play, refunds are handled by those stores per their policies.

Applicable law: The Subscription Contracts Act 2024 - see 2024 Act and Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 - see 2013 Regulations.

Before you cancel: ask for a retention offer

Independent is known to run introductory offers such as £1 for 6 months for new customers. The public help pages do not list standard retention discounts for existing subscribers. To request a retention offer, open the help centre contact form at Contact us, state your account email, and ask whether any offers are available to keep your subscription. Keep the ticket ID and any written offer. If you subscribed via Apple or Google Play, request information about promotions in the app store subscription management.

How much you save by cancelling - yearly calculations

Use these concrete examples from current pricing history and official listings to calculate annual savings if you cancel a paid plan:

• Independent Premium monthly at £11.00 - yearly cost = 11.00 x 12 = £132.00 per year.
• Independent Premium monthly at £12.99 - yearly cost = 12.99 x 12 = £155.88 per year.
• Student subscription at £1.00 per month - yearly cost = 1.00 x 12 = £12.00 per year.
• Independent Premium annual at £99.00 - yearly cost = £99.00 per year. Compared to £11.00 monthly this saves 132.00 - 99.00 = £33.00 per year.

Cheapest real alternative in competitor data: GoForma at £22.00 per month - yearly cost = 22.00 x 12 = £264.00 per year. Independent at £11.00 monthly costs £132.00 per year, which is £132.00 less than GoForma annual cost of £264.00.

Key UK consumer law

Your rights when cancelling a subscription in the United Kingdom include protections under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and the Subscription Contracts Act 2024. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires services to be supplied with reasonable care and skill and prohibits unfair contract terms.

Cooling-off and refunds

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts. The Subscription Contracts Act 2024 introduces initial and renewal cooling-off rights for subscription contracts. If you cancel within these periods you may be entitled to a refund for payments made, subject to the specific rules in those statutes.

Auto-renewal and unfair practices

The Competition and Markets Authority treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potentially unfair. If you believe Independent used unclear renewal terms or made cancellation hard, raise the issue with Citizens Advice and consider escalation steps below.

How to escalate

1) Complain to Independent via the help centre and keep all correspondence. 2) If unresolved, get advice from Citizens Advice. 3) If the issue concerns financial products or regulated services, contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. For card payments, consider Section 75 or chargeback via your card issuer if eligible.

Check access and final billing

Confirm in your account that Auto-renewal is OFF and note the subscription expiry date. Cancellation takes effect from the next due payment date; you retain access until that date. Independent's help page on expiry clarifies when the subscription ends.

Data and account

If you want account deletion, request it via the help centre contact form. Export any saved content or settings before asking for deletion. Independent provides multi-device access for subscribers; see the official article about multiple devices for details.

Refunds and third-party stores

No refunds are available once your subscription renews for direct purchases via independent.co.uk. Refunds for subscriptions made through Apple App Store are handled by Apple and through Google Play by Google. If you believe statutory cooling-off applies, reference the Subscription Contracts Act 2024 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 in your claim.

Re-activation

You can resubscribe at any time through the website or app. If you have an introductory offer history, new offers may be limited to new customers only.

Follow these concrete actions after deciding to cancel to protect your rights and evidence:

• Log in to your Independent account and switch Auto-renewal to OFF. Take a screenshot showing Auto-renewal OFF and the expiry date.
• If you used Apple or Google Play, cancel via the store and save the cancellation email from Apple or Google.
• If you cannot cancel online, submit a cancellation request via the help centre contact form and save the ticket ID.
• Keep all receipts and payment confirmations for at least 6 months after cancellation.
• If you believe you qualify for a refund under cooling-off, cite the Subscription Contracts Act 2024 and Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 in your message and request a written decision.
• If you send a postal cancellation, use registered post to Independent, Crown Way, CF14 3UZ Cardiff, United Kingdom and keep the tracking reference.