Cancellation The Economist: Easy Method

What is The Economist

The Economist is an international weekly magazine covering politics, business, science and culture, offered in digital and print formats by The Economist Group. It provides subscription access to its website, mobile apps and a weekly printed edition in markets where print distribution is available.

How to cancel The Economist

• If you subscribed via the Apple App Store or Google Play, cancel through Apple or Google (the Economist does not process cancellations or refunds for app‑store purchases). See The Economist's note at Terms of Use.
• If you purchased directly from The Economist's website, contact Economist customer service to cancel: use live chat or phone, or submit the cancellation form referenced in their terms. For subscriptions purchased after 14 April 2025 the policy is non‑cancellable/non‑refundable for the current term; you can cancel renewal so the subscription ends at expiry. See Terms (effective 30/07/2025).
• If your subscription was bought before 7 November 2024 and had not yet renewed by 14 April 2025, you may be able to cancel and request a pro‑rata refund for any unused period; confirm this with customer service and have purchase details ready.
• If sending written notice or a signed cancellation request, consider registered mail (e.g. raccomandata A/R) to the group’s postal address to obtain delivery confirmation; address is provided at the end of this guide.

What happens when you cancel

If you cancel a directly purchased subscription before the end of the paid term, the usual outcome is that access continues until the current expiry date unless you request immediate termination and a refund where permitted. Cancelling a renewal simply prevents future automatic charges but does not necessarily produce a refund for the current, paid term under Economist policy. If you cancel via an app store, access and billing are governed by the app store’s processes. The Economist retains account and billing-related data as described in its terms and privacy policy; contact customer service if you need clarification about data retention or account closure.

Will I get a refund?

Refunds depend on where and when you purchased. App‑store purchases are handled by Apple/Google and The Economist states it does not issue refunds for those subscriptions; any refund requests must follow the app‑store policy. For direct web purchases made after 14 April 2025, The Economist’s stated policy is non‑refundable for the term paid (you may cancel renewal). For certain direct purchases made before 7 November 2024 that had not yet renewed by 14 April 2025 a pro‑rata refund for unused time may be available - confirm with customer service. Statutory 14‑day cooling‑off/refund rights cited in The Economist's terms apply only to UK/EU customers and do not extend to Canada under those terms.

The Economist plans and pricing

Your consumer rights in Canada

Under The Economist’s published terms, the EU/UK 14‑day statutory right to cancel with a refund does not apply to Canadian customers. Canadian consumer protection laws may provide some remedies for misrepresentation or failure to deliver physical goods, but the Economist's internal policy generally limits refunds outside specific pro‑rata arrangements for certain legacy purchases, and many customers report difficulty obtaining redress through the publisher. If you believe your statutory rights under provincial consumer protection law have been breached (for example, non‑delivery of paid print issues), you may consider contacting your provincial consumer protection office or your payment provider to dispute charges as a separate course of action.

Customer experiences

Readers commonly praise The Economist’s editorial quality and journalism. At the same time, many customer reviews and forum posts describe frustration with cancellations and refunds: cancellations often require live chat or phone contact rather than a simple self‑service web option, auto‑renewals sometimes occur without clear reminder emails, and some subscribers report print delivery problems and limited compensation. Complaints also include cases of duplicate billing and template responses from support. Representative review pages include Trustpilot and forum posts where these patterns are discussed; see e.g. Trustpilot and community reports such as Reddit.

Documentation checklist

• Order or subscription number, account email, and date of purchase;
• Proof of payment (bank/credit card statement or app‑store receipt);
• Copies or screenshots of any confirmation emails, renewal notices, app‑store subscription details;
• Evidence of delivery problems (missed issues, photos, tracking numbers) if requesting compensation for print nondelivery;
• Notes or transcripts from prior customer service contacts (dates, agent names) and any reference numbers.

Common mistakes

Frequently observed errors include attempting to cancel a subscription through The Economist's website when the subscription was billed via Apple or Google - in that case cancellation must be done through the app store. Other mistakes are assuming a Canadian 14‑day cooling‑off right exists under The Economist’s terms, failing to secure order or receipt details before contacting support, and not requesting immediate evidence of cancellation (confirmation email or reference number). Some customers also assume refunds are automatic after cancellation; under recent Economist terms refunds are limited and dependent on purchase date and channel.

Comparative recap

After cancelling

After you cancel, obtain and save written confirmation (email or reference number). If you cancelled an app‑store subscription, confirm cancellation in your Apple or Google account and keep the app‑store receipt. Monitor your bank or card statements for any unexpected charges and contact your card issuer if necessary. For disputes or questions about The Economist’s policy, review the relevant terms: Terms of Use (Mar - Jul 2025) and Terms of Use (effective 30/07/2025). For customer service contact options referenced in those terms, use the support channels on The Economist website; if you prefer written notice, consider sending registered mail to the postal address below to obtain delivery confirmation.

Address

The Economist Group
The Adelphi
1‑11 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6HT
United Kingdom