What is The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Philadelphia Inquirer is a U.S.-based newspaper and digital publisher that offers digital and print subscription plans, including app-based purchases (App Store and Google Play) and website subscriptions with various introductory offers and ongoing weekly rates. Although headquartered in Philadelphia, many Canadians subscribe through the website or mobile apps and pay in USD, with their payment method converting to CAD at checkout.

How to cancel The Philadelphia Inquirer

If you purchased through an iPhone or iPad (App Store): cancel in iOS Settings → Your Name → Subscriptions → The Philadelphia Inquirer → Cancel. For step-by-step app-store guides see AppCutter - App Store cancel.
If you purchased through Android (Google Play): cancel in Google Play app → Menu → Subscriptions → The Philadelphia Inquirer → Cancel. See AppCutter - Google Play cancel for details.
If you subscribed on the website: the Inquirer does not provide an online cancel button; most web subscribers must call customer service to cancel. Many users report phone-only cancellation during limited hours - see user reports at AppCutter.
If you prefer written cancellation or cannot reach customer service by phone, you can send a cancellation request by mail (registered mail recommended) to the publisher’s correspondence address: P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101.

What happens when you cancel

Access: after you cancel, ongoing access depends on the product and billing period you paid for. App-store subscriptions stop at the end of the paid period unless Apple/Google policies differ. Web subscriptions typically remain active through the current billing cycle but policies vary; confirm with customer service for exact end dates.

Renewal and notifications: web subscriptions have been reported to renew automatically without clear email reminders in some complaints. App-store-managed subscriptions are controlled by Apple or Google and follow their renewal and notification rules. Keep records of cancellation confirmations (email or screenshot) and monitor your card statements for unexpected renewals.

Data and account: cancelling generally stops future billing but may not automatically delete your account or personal data; contact customer service if you want account closure or data deletion and request written confirmation.

Will I get a refund?

There is no clear, web-published 14-day statutory refund policy visible for the Inquirer; refunds appear to be handled case-by-case and often at the publisher’s discretion. Some subscribers have received refunds after persistent escalation to supervisors, while others report difficulty obtaining refunds for unauthorized post-intro charges or renewals.

If you purchased through the App Store or Google Play, you may also have refund options via Apple or Google’s refund procedures - those platforms sometimes handle refunds separately from the publisher. If you paid on the website, prepare to explain the situation clearly and escalate if needed; retain all billing records and correspondence.

The Philadelphia Inquirer plans and pricing

Plan	Price (USD / approx. CAD)	Period	Features
In-App Purchase - Inquirer Digital Subscription	US$24.99 (≈ C$33.74)	One-time or recurring (App Store listing not specific)	Basic digital all-access via app purchase
In-App Purchase - Premium Digital Access	US$39.99 (≈ C$53.99)	One-time or recurring (App Store listing not specific)	Ad-free pages, e-Editions, NYT Cooking for 1 year, extra sharing
Website - Unlimited Digital Access Intro Offer	US$1 for 6 months (≈ C$1.35 for 6 months)	Introductory (then US$5.49/week)	Unlimited digital access, cancel anytime
Website - Weekly digital access rate	US$5.49/week (≈ C$7.41/week ≈ C$32.37/month)	Weekly ongoing	Unlimited digital access after intro
Website - Premium Digital Access Intro Offer	US$1 for 3 months (≈ C$1.35 for 3 months)	Introductory (then US$6.99/week)	All Premium benefits
Website - Premium weekly rate	US$6.99/week (≈ C$9.44/week ≈ C$40.94/month)	Weekly ongoing	Premium Digital Access benefits
Website - Unlimited Digital + Sunday Print Delivery Intro	US$1/week for 4 months (≈ C$1.35/week ≈ C$5.40/week)	Introductory for 4 months (then US$5.49/week)	Includes Sunday print delivery plus digital access

Your consumer rights in Canada

Canadian subscribers have provincial and federal protections that may apply to automatic renewal and unfair renewal practices (for example, some provinces have Automatic Renewal Regulations or specific consumer protection statutes). The Inquirer’s publicly available policies do not show Canada-specific cancellation procedures, so Canadian consumers should check their provincial consumer protection office for specific rules and remedies.

Because the U.S. FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule (effective April 2025, compliance due May 2025) requires cancellation to be as easy as signup in the U.S., it may not directly apply to Canadian consumers. Nevertheless, similar principles inform consumer protection policy and you can raise non-compliance concerns with your provincial consumer protection agency or your payment provider (credit card company/bank) to dispute unauthorized charges.

Be alert for third-party renewal solicitations and scams. The Inquirer has warned subscribers that some third-party solicitations are fraudulent; do not respond to suspicious renewal notices - see the news warning at CBS News.

Customer experiences

Reports are mixed. Some subscribers describe quick, successful cancellations and refunds after polite persistence - examples include phone cancellations that took only a few minutes and successful refund outcomes after escalating to a supervisor. These positive reports tend to highlight persistence and asking for supervisor review.

Negative reports are common as well: many web subscribers say there is no online cancel button and that they were forced to call during restricted hours, experienced long hold times, or received renewal charges without clear renewal notices. Complaints logged with consumer forums mention unauthorized post-intro charges (for example, recurring charges reported around US$21.96/month), difficulty obtaining refunds after cancellation requests, and sometimes not receiving cancellation confirmations - see community threads and complaint summaries at Reddit and BBB.

Documentation checklist

Account email and username associated with the subscription
Receipt, order number, or payment transaction showing the charge
Date you first subscribed and any introductory offer details
Screenshots of subscription settings (App Store / Google Play / website) and any renewal emails
Copies (or notes) of phone calls: date/time, agent name, and summary of what was said
Bank or card statement lines showing the charge(s)
If mailing cancellation, a copy of the mailed letter and proof of delivery (registered mail tracking receipt)

Common mistakes

One common mistake is assuming the publisher can cancel an in-app subscription; purchases made through Apple or Google are usually managed in those platforms and must be cancelled in the device settings. Another frequent error is waiting until after an auto-renewal posts to request a refund - timing and prompt documentation improve your chances. Some subscribers respond to third-party renewal notices or scammers thinking they are legitimate; always verify renewal communications against your account and do not pay unknown solicitations.

Failing to keep proof of cancellation or not asking for a written confirmation can make disputes harder to resolve. If you call to cancel, request a confirmation number or an email confirmation and save it.

Comparative recap

Method	Refund	Difficulty
iPhone / iPad (App Store)	Refunds handled by Apple (publisher refunds possible but less common); cancellation straightforward via device	Low
Android (Google Play)	Refunds handled by Google (publisher refunds possible); cancellation straightforward via Google Play	Low
Website (phone-required cancellation)	Refunds discretionary; some users obtained refunds after escalation, many report difficulty	High
Postal cancellation (registered mail)	Refunds discretionary and must be requested separately; provides written proof of request	Moderate

After cancelling

After you cancel, monitor your credit card or bank statements for at least one full billing cycle to confirm no further charges appear. If a renewal charge does appear, contact the publisher immediately, reference your cancellation confirmation, and request a refund in writing. If the publisher refuses and you believe the charge is unauthorized, contact your card issuer to dispute the charge and provide your documentation.

Helpful resources: cancellation instructions for app purchases (AppCutter), media reports on scams (CBS News), and community complaint threads and summaries (Reddit, BBB).

Address

P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101. If you send a written cancellation or dispute by mail, consider registered mail with proof of delivery and keep copies of everything for your records.

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