Ending your Perlego membership made easy

About Perlego

Perlego is a digital library subscription service based in the United Kingdom that provides unlimited access to over one million academic and professional ebooks, textbooks, and research materials. Founded in 2017, the platform has become particularly popular among university students, researchers, and professionals seeking affordable access to educational content without purchasing individual textbooks at full price.

The service operates similarly to streaming platforms like Netflix or Spotify, but specifically for academic and professional literature. Users can read books online through their web browser or mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. The platform includes titles from major academic publishers including Pearson, SAGE, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and Oxford University Press, covering subjects ranging from business and economics to science, technology, engineering, and humanities.

As a UK-registered company, Perlego operates under UK consumer protection laws, which means subscribers benefit from specific rights regarding contract terms, cancellation periods, and fair treatment. This is particularly important when you decide to end your subscription, as these legal protections ensure you can cancel your service without unreasonable obstacles or hidden penalties.

Understanding your rights as a Perlego subscriber is essential before committing to any subscription plan. Many users find the service valuable during their studies or professional development periods but may need to cancel when circumstances change, such as completing their course, graduating, or finding alternative resources. Therefore, knowing the cancellation process from the outset empowers you to make informed decisions about your subscription.

Subscription plans and pricing

Perlego offers several subscription tiers designed to accommodate different user needs and budgets. The pricing structure has evolved since the company's inception, and it's important to understand what you're committing to before subscribing, as this directly affects your cancellation rights and notice periods.

Current subscription options

The platform typically provides both monthly and annual subscription plans. Annual subscriptions generally offer significant savings compared to paying monthly, which makes them attractive to students planning long-term use. However, annual commitments also require more careful consideration regarding cancellation terms, as you may be locked into a longer contract period.

Perlego occasionally offers promotional pricing, free trial periods, or student discounts that can affect the standard rates. These promotional offers often come with specific terms and conditions that may influence your cancellation rights. For instance, a free trial period typically allows cancellation without charge if done before the trial expires, but failing to cancel results in automatic conversion to a paid subscription.

What your subscription includes

Regardless of which plan you choose, Perlego subscriptions generally include unlimited reading access to the entire library, the ability to highlight and take notes within books, offline reading capabilities through mobile apps, and the option to access content across multiple devices. However, it's crucial to understand that you don't own the books—you're essentially renting access to them. This means that once you cancel your subscription, you lose access to all materials, including any notes or highlights you've made.

This rental model is precisely why many subscribers eventually choose to cancel. Students may only need access during specific academic terms, professionals might complete their research projects, or users may find they're not utilising the service enough to justify the ongoing cost. Understanding these common cancellation triggers helps you plan when and how to end your subscription effectively.

Cancellation terms and conditions

Understanding Perlego's cancellation terms is fundamental to protecting your consumer rights and avoiding unexpected charges. As a UK-based service, Perlego must comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, which provide important protections for subscribers.

Legal requirements in the UK

Under UK consumer protection law, you have specific rights when entering into subscription contracts. The Consumer Contracts Regulations give you a 14-day cooling-off period for most online purchases and subscriptions, during which you can cancel without providing a reason. However, if you've actively used the service during this period, the provider may be entitled to charge you for the usage, though you can still cancel.

After the cooling-off period expires, your cancellation rights depend on the specific terms outlined in Perlego's contract. This means you should carefully review the terms and conditions you agreed to when subscribing, as these govern your ongoing relationship with the company and your ability to exit the contract.

Notice periods and timing

Perlego's cancellation policy typically requires notice before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another subscription period. For monthly subscriptions, this usually means cancelling before your monthly renewal date. For annual subscriptions, the situation becomes more complex, as some annual contracts may not allow mid-term cancellation or may require you to continue paying until the contract period ends.

This is where understanding your specific contract terms becomes critical. Some subscribers discover too late that their annual subscription doesn't permit cancellation until the full year has elapsed, resulting in continued charges even when they no longer wish to use the service. Therefore, reviewing your subscription type and associated cancellation terms before attempting to cancel saves considerable frustration and potential financial loss.

Refund policies

Perlego's refund policy varies depending on when you cancel and which subscription type you hold. Generally, if you cancel during the 14-day cooling-off period and haven't extensively used the service, you may be entitled to a full refund. However, if you cancel a monthly subscription mid-cycle, you typically retain access until the end of your paid period but won't receive a refund for the remaining days.

For annual subscriptions, refund policies tend to be more restrictive. Many annual contracts don't offer pro-rata refunds if you cancel partway through the year, meaning you've paid for twelve months and must use those twelve months or forfeit the remaining value. This policy underscores the importance of carefully considering which subscription type suits your needs and how certain you are about requiring year-long access.

Why postal cancellation protects your rights

Whilst many services encourage online cancellation through account settings, sending a formal cancellation letter by post offers superior protection for your consumer rights. Postal cancellation, particularly via Recorded Delivery, creates an undeniable paper trail that proves exactly when you submitted your cancellation request.

This documented evidence becomes invaluable if disputes arise about cancellation timing or if the company claims they never received your cancellation request. In practice, some subscribers report difficulties cancelling online due to technical issues, confusing website navigation, or account access problems. A posted letter bypasses these obstacles entirely and ensures your cancellation request reaches the company regardless of website functionality.

Furthermore, a formal written cancellation demonstrates that you've taken the matter seriously and followed proper procedures. Should you need to escalate a complaint to regulatory bodies or pursue legal action, having postal proof of your cancellation attempt strengthens your position considerably. Therefore, postal cancellation represents the most reliable method for protecting yourself as a consumer.

How to cancel Perlego by post

Cancelling your Perlego subscription by post involves several straightforward steps that ensure your request is properly documented and legally sound. This method provides the strongest evidence that you've fulfilled your contractual obligations regarding notice periods and cancellation procedures.

Preparing your cancellation letter

Your cancellation letter should be clear, concise, and include all necessary information to identify your account and process your request. Include your full name as it appears on your account, your email address associated with the subscription, your account number or customer reference if available, and the date you're writing the letter.

State explicitly that you wish to cancel your Perlego subscription and specify the cancellation date you're requesting. If you're within the 14-day cooling-off period, mention this and reference your rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you're cancelling after this period, ensure you're providing adequate notice according to your subscription terms.

Request written confirmation of your cancellation, including confirmation that no further payments will be taken from your account. This confirmation request is crucial because it obligates Perlego to respond and provides you with documentation that the cancellation has been processed. Additionally, mention that you're sending the letter via Recorded Delivery and note the tracking reference number within your letter for additional documentation.

Where to send your cancellation letter

Send your cancellation letter to Perlego's registered business address. As of current records, the company's official correspondence address is:

• Perlego Ltd
• Alphabeta Building
• 14-18 Finsbury Square
• London
• EC2A 1AH
• United Kingdom

Always verify this address is current before posting your letter, as companies occasionally relocate their offices. You can confirm the registered address through Companies House, the UK's registrar of companies, which maintains up-to-date records of all registered business addresses.

Using Recorded Delivery for proof

Sending your cancellation letter via Royal Mail Recorded Delivery is essential for creating verifiable proof of posting and delivery. This service costs a few pounds but provides invaluable protection by giving you a tracking reference and requiring a signature upon delivery.

Keep your proof of postage receipt in a safe place along with a copy of your cancellation letter. This documentation proves you sent the cancellation request on a specific date, which becomes critical if Perlego later claims they never received your letter or if disputes arise about whether you provided adequate notice.

In practice, Recorded Delivery typically ensures your letter reaches its destination within one to two business days within the UK. This prompt delivery timeline means you can cancel close to your renewal date whilst still providing proper notice, assuming you're within the terms of your subscription agreement.

Services that simplify postal cancellation

For those who find the postal cancellation process daunting or time-consuming, services like Postclic offer a streamlined alternative. Postclic specialises in helping consumers send formal letters, including cancellation requests, with full tracking and professional formatting.

Using Postclic means you don't need to draft the letter yourself, purchase envelopes and stamps, or visit the post office to arrange Recorded Delivery. Instead, you provide your cancellation details through their platform, and they handle the printing, posting, and tracking. This approach saves considerable time whilst still providing the legal protections and paper trail that postal cancellation offers.

The service maintains digital records of your cancellation request and provides tracking information, giving you peace of mind that your letter has been sent and delivered. For busy students or professionals who want to ensure their cancellation is handled correctly without investing significant time and effort, such services represent a practical middle ground between doing everything manually and relying solely on potentially problematic online cancellation methods.

Following up on your cancellation

After posting your cancellation letter, monitor your email for confirmation from Perlego. Most companies respond within five to ten business days of receiving a cancellation request. If you don't receive confirmation within two weeks, follow up with another letter referencing your original cancellation request and including the Recorded Delivery tracking number.

Check your bank statements or payment method to ensure no further charges appear after your cancellation should take effect. If Perlego continues charging you despite your cancellation request, contact your bank or card provider immediately to dispute the charges. Provide them with copies of your cancellation letter, proof of posting, and any delivery confirmation you received.

This vigilance protects your financial interests and ensures the cancellation has been properly processed. Some subscribers report that cancellations weren't immediately implemented in company systems, resulting in additional charges that required refunding. Therefore, staying alert to your account activity for at least one billing cycle after cancellation safeguards against these processing errors.

Customer reviews and tips

Understanding other customers' experiences with Perlego and its cancellation process provides valuable insights that can help you navigate your own subscription management more effectively. Customer feedback reveals common patterns in both service satisfaction and cancellation challenges.

Common reasons for cancellation

Reviews across various consumer platforms indicate that subscribers cancel Perlego for several recurring reasons. Students frequently cancel after completing their studies or graduating, as they no longer need access to academic textbooks. This represents one of the most common cancellation triggers, as the service's primary value proposition centres on educational materials with time-limited relevance.

Cost concerns also drive cancellations, particularly when users realise they're not accessing the platform frequently enough to justify the monthly or annual expense. Some subscribers report initially subscribing with good intentions but finding they prefer physical books or don't have sufficient time to utilise the digital library. As a result, the subscription becomes an unnecessary recurring expense that needs eliminating.

Technical issues occasionally prompt cancellations as well. Some users report difficulties with the reading interface, synchronisation problems across devices, or limitations in highlighting and note-taking functionality. Whilst these issues don't affect all subscribers, they can significantly impact user experience for those who encounter them, leading to cancellation decisions.

Additionally, some subscribers find that their required textbooks or research materials aren't available on the platform, despite Perlego's extensive catalogue. This gap between expected and actual content availability disappoints users who subscribed specifically to access particular titles, prompting them to cancel and seek alternatives.

Positive experiences with the service

Despite cancellation reasons, many customer reviews praise Perlego's core service during active subscription periods. Students particularly appreciate the cost savings compared to purchasing individual textbooks, with some reporting savings of hundreds of pounds per academic year. The breadth of available titles receives consistent positive feedback, as does the ability to access materials across multiple devices.

The highlighting and note-taking features earn favourable mentions from users who actively engage with the platform's functionality. Many subscribers value the ability to search across the entire library simultaneously, which facilitates research and literature reviews more efficiently than traditional library systems.

These positive aspects don't necessarily prevent cancellations but do indicate that many users find genuine value in the service during their subscription period. This suggests that cancellation often stems from changing circumstances rather than inherent service deficiencies, which is important context when considering whether to subscribe initially.

Cancellation experience feedback

Customer feedback regarding the cancellation process itself presents a mixed picture. Some subscribers report straightforward cancellation experiences through account settings, whilst others describe frustration with unclear cancellation procedures or difficulties locating cancellation options within their account dashboard.

Several reviewers mention unexpected charges continuing after they believed they'd cancelled their subscriptions. These situations typically arose from misunderstandings about billing cycles, notice periods, or incomplete cancellation procedures. Such experiences underscore the importance of obtaining written confirmation of your cancellation and monitoring your payment method for unauthorised charges.

Postal cancellation receives limited mention in customer reviews, likely because most subscribers attempt online cancellation first. However, those who did use postal methods generally report more certainty and fewer disputes about whether their cancellation was properly processed. This aligns with consumer rights principles that emphasise documented communication for contractual matters.

Tips from experienced subscribers

Based on collective customer experiences, several practical tips emerge for managing your Perlego subscription and cancellation effectively. First, carefully review the subscription terms before committing, particularly regarding annual contracts and their cancellation restrictions. Understanding these terms upfront prevents unpleasant surprises later.

Second, set calendar reminders for your renewal dates, especially if you're on a monthly subscription and want to cancel before the next billing cycle. This proactive approach ensures you don't miss the cancellation window and incur charges for another period you don't intend to use.

Third, download or screenshot any important notes or highlights before cancelling, as you'll lose access to these materials once your subscription ends. Many subscribers regret not preserving their annotations and research notes before cancellation, discovering too late that this information becomes inaccessible.

Fourth, if you're uncertain about cancelling permanently, check whether Perlego offers subscription pausing or downgrading options. Some subscribers find that temporarily suspending their subscription during summer breaks or between projects provides more flexibility than complete cancellation, though this depends on current company policies.

Finally, maintain thorough documentation throughout the cancellation process. Keep copies of all correspondence, note dates and times of any communications, and preserve proof of posting if using postal cancellation. This documentation protects your interests if disputes arise and provides evidence for complaints to regulatory bodies if necessary.

When to seek additional support

If you encounter difficulties cancelling your Perlego subscription despite following proper procedures, several avenues for additional support exist. Citizens Advice provides free guidance on consumer rights and can advise on your specific situation, particularly regarding subscription contracts and cancellation disputes.

The Financial Ombudsman Service handles complaints about payment-related issues if Perlego continues charging you after cancellation. Whilst this service primarily addresses financial services complaints, recurring payment disputes fall within their remit in many cases.

For broader consumer protection concerns, Trading Standards can investigate potentially unfair business practices, including unreasonable cancellation procedures or misleading subscription terms. Whilst they may not resolve individual cases directly, reporting problems helps identify patterns of concerning business behaviour.

Your bank or payment provider also represents an important resource if unauthorised charges continue. Most financial institutions offer chargeback procedures for disputed transactions, though these work best when you can provide documentation of your cancellation attempts and the company's failure to honour your request.

Remember that as a UK consumer, you have substantial legal protections regarding subscription services and contract cancellations. Don't hesitate to assert these rights if you believe Perlego isn't honouring your cancellation request or is imposing unfair terms. Postal cancellation via Recorded Delivery provides the strongest foundation for these assertions, creating undeniable evidence that you've fulfilled your obligations and properly communicated your intention to end the subscription contract.