Cancellation service N°1 in Australia
Contract number:
To the attention of:
Cancellation Department – Daily Mercury
Level 1, 47 Gordon Street
4740 Mackay
Subject: Contract Cancellation – Certified Email Notification
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby notify you of my decision to terminate contract number relating to the Daily Mercury service. This notification constitutes a firm, clear and unequivocal intention to cancel the contract, effective at the earliest possible date or in accordance with the applicable contractual notice period.
I kindly request that you take all necessary measures to:
– cease all billing from the effective date of cancellation;
– confirm in writing the proper receipt of this request;
– and, where applicable, send me the final statement or balance confirmation.
This cancellation is sent to you by certified email. The sending, timestamping and integrity of the content are established, making it equivalent proof meeting the requirements of electronic evidence. You therefore have all the necessary elements to process this cancellation properly, in accordance with the applicable principles regarding written notification and contractual freedom.
In accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and data protection regulations, I also request that you:
– delete all my personal data not necessary for your legal or accounting obligations;
– close any associated personal account;
– and confirm to me the effective deletion of data in accordance with applicable rights regarding privacy protection.
I retain a complete copy of this notification as well as proof of sending.
Yours sincerely,
14/01/2026
How to Cancel Daily Mercury: Complete Guide
What is Daily Mercury
Daily Mercury is the regional Mackay news title that forms part of the wider News Corp / News Local stable of Australian mastheads. It publishes local reporting, community coverage and notices, and offers paywalled digital content and subscription products linked to the News+ / full digital access model used across News Corp regional brands. This means subscription packaging and renewal mechanics mirror the group approach rather than a bespoke small-business arrangement.
The masthead runs a mix of digital-only access and bundled options that combine digital access with paper delivery. Promotional pricing and billing periods commonly appear as short introductory rates that convert to ongoing four-week billing cycles or fixed 12-month plans; these pricing formats have been visible on regional offers associated with the network.
How cancellations typically work for Daily Mercury subscriptions
Problem: customers often want to stop further charges, seek refunds, or confirm when access will end. This section explains the contractual and practical mechanics you are likely to meet when you stop a Daily Mercury subscription.
Billing cycle and renewal: regional News Corp digital subscriptions typically use a four-week billing cadence for ongoing plans and may offer a 12-month "lock-in" that is billed as regular 4-week instalments with a stated minimum cost for the year. Promotional introductory periods are common and will usually convert to the standard rate at the first scheduled renewal after the offer ends.
Notice periods and effective date: cancellation normally takes effect at the end of the current paid period unless the contract expressly permits a pro-rata refund. Many subscribers find access remains available until the end of the paid cycle even after the cancellation is acknowledged; this is standard for subscription services and is usually set out in terms and conditions.
Proration and refunds: whether you receive a pro-rata refund for unused time depends on the specific plan terms and the timing of cancellation. For some 12-month promotional plans the vendor treats the first 12 months as a minimum cost; refunds for unused portions may be restricted. Where a subscription was renewed automatically shortly before cancellation, companies in this sector often limit refunds for renewal periods unless required by consumer law.
Cooling-off rules: unsolicited agreements and some sales have statutory cooling-off rights under the Australian Consumer Law. For standard digital subscriptions that begin immediately, cooling-off rights can be limited. This means the right to a full change-of-mind refund is not guaranteed for digital access once the service is delivered. Regulatory expectations about clear renewal disclosure and easy cancellation are, however, strengthening.
| Subscription type | Common billing pattern | Pricing example (A$) |
|---|---|---|
| Full digital access (ongoing) | Charged every 4 weeks | Varies - often promoted then A$28 every 4 weeks (network examples) |
| Full digital access - 12 month plan | Minimum 12-month cost, billed in 4-week instalments | A$208 minimum for first 12 months (example across network offers). |
| Digital + weekend paper delivery (promo) | Intro rate then standard 4-week billing | Intro example: A$8 per 4 weeks for initial promo then A$36 every 4 weeks (network/regional offers). |
Customer experience with cancelling Daily Mercury
What users report
Users who have posted reviews about News Corp regional subscriptions commonly describe the same themes when dealing with Daily Mercury-style products: unexpected early charges during promotional periods; automatic renewals at higher rates; friction when seeking refunds; and dissatisfaction when the billing descriptor on statements does not clearly identify the masthead. Many reviews are lodged against the broader network and mention specific local titles interchangeably.
Representative paraphrased feedback from public reviews: “charged at a higher rate sooner than expected”, “difficulty obtaining a clear refund for a renewed period”, and “automatic renewals and limited disclosure of the post-promo price”. These are paraphrases of recurring user comments on public review sites and community threads.
Recurring issues and practical takeaways
Recurring issue: promotional pricing that converts to a higher recurring charge has been a major source of disputes. Practical takeaway: track the exact promotional end date and the advertised post-promo rate from the time of sign-up.
Recurring issue: customers often report poor visibility of cancellation mechanics prior to purchase and later frustration if communications are unclear. Practical takeaway: retain the original offer text and any confirmation you received at purchase; those are the clearest evidence of what you agreed to.
Recurring issue: disputes about timing and refunds after automatic renewals are common across the network. Practical takeaway: if you believe a renewal charge is unfair, prepare a concise timeline of events and payment records before escalating.
Documentation checklist
- Subscription name: keep the exact product title shown on receipts.
- Purchase date: note when you first subscribed or used a promo.
- Billing descriptor: copy the name that appears on your bank or card statement.
- Plan terms: save the terms and promotion text you saw at signup (screenshots or printouts).
- Amounts charged: bank statements showing every related debit.
- Dates of any cancellation request: record the time and any reference or confirmation number.
- Correspondence: keep copies of any written replies or acknowledgements you receive.
- Evidence of non-delivery or faults: if you claim the service was not provided as promised.
Practical options if charges continue or a refund is refused
Start with a clear timeline and your documentation checklist when you decide to challenge a charge. Explain the circumstances concisely and refer to the exact amounts and dates. This strengthens any later complaint to a financial institution or regulator.
If you believe a payment is unauthorised or a merchant continued to charge after you withdrew permission, your card networks recognise a cancelled-recurring-transaction dispute category. Banks and card schemes accept disputes where recurring debits continue after evidence of cancellation. This is a technical remedy and banks may apply their own dispute procedures.
Regulatory escalation: the ACCC and state fair trading offices have pursued misleading subscription conduct in recent enforcement actions. Regulators expect transparent renewal disclosures and easy cancellation steps; cases against other subscription businesses show agencies will act where terms are unfair or misleading. Use regulator complaint channels if your attempt to resolve the issue with the provider does not work.
| Dispute scenario | What users commonly experience | Likely outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Early conversion from promo to full price | Charge appears sooner than reader expected | Possible partial refund if merchant agrees or if regulator finds disclosure poor; otherwise bank dispute may be needed. |
| Charges after cancellation request | User reports continued debits | Bank dispute for cancelled recurring transaction often succeeds if you can show cancellation evidence or absence of clear cancellation mechanics. |
| Non-delivery of promised extra benefits | Subscriber claims promised extras were not supplied | Possible remedy under consumer guarantees; regulator complaint or consumer law claim may be effective. |
Consumer rights that matter for Daily Mercury
The Australian Consumer Law provides protection against misleading or deceptive conduct and unfair contract terms. For a Daily Mercury subscription this means key terms must be clearly disclosed and renewal mechanics must not be hidden. If essential facts were not clearly presented at the time of sale, you may have a stronger claim for refund or remediation.
Regulators have taken action where subscription vendors made cancellation difficult or failed to disclose material renewal terms. This is relevant if your experience mirrors the public complaints reported against the wider network. Keep regulatory escalation as an available step if other routes fail.
How refunds and disputes are commonly resolved
Refunds are handled case-by-case. If the vendor agrees the charge was inappropriate you should obtain written confirmation of the refund and the date the refund will appear on your statement. If the vendor declines, a dispute through your bank can be effective for recurring transactions processed after a valid cancellation. Carefully document every interaction.
If you decide to raise a formal complaint with a regulator, include the timeline and supporting records. Regulators may mediate or, in some cases, open enforcement action that benefits multiple consumers. This process can take time but is useful if there are systemic issues.
Address
- Address: Level 1, 47 Gordon Street Mackay QLD 4740
What to do after cancelling Daily Mercury
After you cancel, monitor your bank and card statements for at least two billing cycles to confirm no further debits appear. Keep the documentation checklist items accessible in case you need to escalate.
If you see an unexpected charge, prepare a concise timeline (dates, amounts, descriptors) and copy the documentation checklist to show to your financial institution or regulator. Ask for a written outcome and retain it for your records.
If the charge appears to be a continuing recurring debit after a valid cancellation, discuss the matter with your bank about disputing the transaction under recurring payment rules. Also consider lodging a complaint with your state fair trading office and the ACCC if disclosure or cancellation mechanics appear unfair; regulator complaints are a recognised escalation path and have been used successfully in similar subscription disputes.
Finally, keep a short record of lessons learned: note the billing descriptor the service used on your statement, the plan name, and any promotional end dates. This helps prevent surprises if you consider re-subscribing in future.