Cancellation The Star: Easy Method

What is The Star

The Star (Toronto Star) is a major Canadian news publisher offering digital and print subscriptions that provide full access to its journalism through the Toronto Star app and web site. Subscriptions may be sold directly by The Star or through third-party platforms (Apple App Store, Google Play).

How to cancel The Star

• Web (direct via The Star): For continuous (digital) subscriptions bought directly from The Star, cancel by contacting the Circulation/Customer Service team by phone. You must give at least 48 business hours' notice before the end of your current billing period; if you cancel later, the cancellation will take effect at the end of the next billing period. Fixed‑term subscriptions cannot be canceled early (early cancellation may incur fees).
• App Store (iOS): Open your Apple account subscriptions and turn off auto‑renew at least 24 hours before the period ends. Apple manages these subscriptions; you must cancel via your Apple Account settings on your device or at Apple Support.
• Google Play (Android): Open Google Play → Subscriptions → Manage → Cancel subscription. Cancellation must be completed inside Google Play; simply uninstalling the app does not stop billing. See Google Play Help for details.

What happens when you cancel

If you cancel a recurring digital subscription directly with The Star in accordance with the notice requirements, your access typically continues through the end of the paid billing period. If you cancel with less than the required 48 business hours' notice, cancellation will generally be effective at the end of the next billing period rather than immediately. Fixed‑term subscriptions remain active until the term expires and cannot be ended early except as allowed by the agreement.

For subscriptions billed via Apple or Google, turning off auto‑renew stops future renewals but access generally remains until the end of the current paid period managed by those platforms. Any account or usage data retention is governed by The Star’s privacy policy and account terms.

Will I get a refund?

The Star’s published terms state there are no automatic refunds for fixed‑term subscriptions; you can cancel to let a fixed term expire but are not entitled to an automatic refund. Refunds or credits may be issued only at the company’s sole discretion and on a case‑by‑case basis. For print subscriptions, amounts of CA$15 or less are non‑refundable due to administrative costs.

There is no explicit statutory 14‑day cooling‑off right referenced in The Star’s subscription terms for digital subscriptions; refunds for digital media are discretionary under the company’s policy. If your subscription was purchased through Apple or Google, refund requests are subject to those platform providers’ refund policies and procedures.

The Star plans and pricing

Your consumer rights in Canada

Under Canadian law, mandatory cancellation or refund rights for digital subscriptions are limited compared with some consumer protections for physical goods or certain distance sales. The Star’s terms do not guarantee a 14‑day money‑back right for digital subscriptions; refunds are described as discretionary. Provincial consumer protection statutes (for example, Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act) may offer remedies in some circumstances, but for digital news subscriptions statutory cooling‑off rights are typically not automatic.

Customer experiences

User feedback is mixed. Security and legitimacy assessments generally rate The Star’s app as safe and legitimate, and many customers use the service without issue. However, publicly posted reviews show many negative experiences: Trustpilot contains numerous complaints about perceived bias, delivery problems for print, and customer service responsiveness. Other reports (Reddit, BBB) specifically mention difficulties cancelling and cases where billing continued after cancellation requests. Some app reviewers have said the cancellation process asks intrusive questions.

Documentation checklist

• Account holder name and email used to subscribe
• Subscription order number or transaction ID (from welcome/receipt email)
• Payment method and date of most recent charge (credit card statement screenshot)
• Screenshot or confirmation showing cancellation or auto‑renew turned off
• Copies of any emails, chat transcripts, or notes of phone calls with dates and agents' names
• Registered mail receipt or proof of delivery if you send a written cancellation

Common mistakes

Uninstalling the app without canceling through the correct platform is a frequent error; uninstalling does not stop billing via Apple or Google Play. Waiting until the last moment and missing the 48 business‑hour or 24‑hour auto‑renew cutoff can leave you liable for the next billing cycle. Cancelling with the wrong party (for example, asking The Star to cancel an Apple‑billed subscription) can delay resolution. Finally, not saving a cancellation confirmation or transaction receipt means you may lack proof if billing continues.

Comparative recap

After cancelling

Keep the cancellation confirmation and proof of any communications. If you canceled via a platform, check Apple’s or Google’s refund and support pages: Apple - manage subscriptions and Google Play - cancel subscriptions. For general consumer guidance in Canada see Government of Canada - consumer information. If billing continues after you have proof of cancellation, follow up promptly with the platform or The Star and keep records; consider contacting your payment provider to dispute unauthorized charges if necessary. For written cancellations or disputes, sending correspondence by registered mail to obtain proof of delivery is recommended.

Address

Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., Circulation Department, 1 Yonge St., 4th Fl., Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6, Canada