Between promotional trial rates that silently convert to full price, auto-renewals buried in fine print, and cancellation processes designed to frustrate you into giving up, newspaper and magazine subscriptions are among the trickiest recurring charges to eliminate.
Whether it's a $4/month digital news trial that became $25/month, or print magazines you haven't opened in six months, here's how to cancel cleanly and get your money back.
The Most Common Subscription Traps
- Trial-to-paid conversions: $1/week introductory rates that jump to $5-$8/week
- Annual auto-renewal: Charged $200+ before you realize the renewal happened
- "Cancel anytime" that requires calling: Online signup, phone-only cancellation
- Continued delivery after cancellation: Bills keep coming for "service through end of term"
- Gift subscriptions that auto-renew: Someone gave you a gift; now you're paying
How to Cancel Major Newspaper Subscriptions
New York Times
- Online: Account → Subscription → Cancel at nytimes.com/subscription/manage
- Phone: 1-800-698-4637 (Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET)
- Chat: Available through Help section
- Tip: The cancellation flow shows multiple retention offers. Click through all of them to reach the actual cancel button.
Wall Street Journal
- Online: My Account → Cancel Subscription at accounts.wsj.com
- Phone: 1-800-568-7625
- Tip: WSJ often won't cancel online and redirects to phone. Call early in the day for shorter wait times.
Washington Post
- Online: Account → Subscription → Cancel at washingtonpost.com/my-account
- Phone: 1-800-477-4679
- Tip: They offer significant discounts during cancellation. If you'd keep it at a lower price, ask for the "$4/month for 12 months" retention offer.
Local/Regional Papers
- Check your credit card statement for the publisher name
- Search "[paper name] cancel subscription" for direct contact info
- If phone-only, call and say "I'd like to cancel my subscription effective immediately"
- Request written confirmation via email
How to Cancel Magazine Subscriptions
Digital Magazines (Apple News+, Kindle Unlimited, etc.)
Apple News+ ($12.99/month):
- Settings → [Your name] → Subscriptions → Apple News+ → Cancel
Kindle Unlimited ($11.99/month):
- Amazon → Account → Memberships → Kindle Unlimited → Cancel
Individual publisher apps: Check both the App Store/Play Store subscriptions AND the publisher's website. Some bill through the app store, others bill directly.
Print Magazines
- Find the publisher: Check the magazine's masthead or your credit card statement
- Call customer service: Number usually on the magazine's website under "Customer Service"
- Request cancellation and refund: Ask for a prorated refund on remaining issues
- Get confirmation in writing: Email confirmation with cancellation date and any refund amount
Getting Refunds for Unwanted Renewals
Within 30 Days of Charge
Contact the publisher directly:
- State: "I was auto-renewed without adequate notice. I'd like a full refund."
- Most publishers will refund within 30 days of renewal, especially for annual plans
- Ask for the refund to your original payment method (not account credit)
After 30 Days
If the publisher refuses:
- File a credit card dispute: Call your card issuer, cite "unauthorized recurring charge"
- Provide documentation: Your cancellation request, lack of renewal notice, etc.
- FTC complaint: File at ftc.gov/complaint for deceptive auto-renewal practices
Your Legal Rights
- California ARL (Auto-Renewal Law): Requires clear disclosure of auto-renewal terms and easy cancellation
- FTC Negative Option Rule: Sellers must clearly disclose material terms before charging
- State consumer protection laws: Many states require renewal notices 30-60 days before charging
Preventing Future Subscription Creep
- [ ] Use a virtual credit card (Privacy.com) with spending limits for trials
- [ ] Set calendar reminders 7 days before any trial expires
- [ ] Review credit card statements monthly for unfamiliar recurring charges
- [ ] Use your email's search function to find "subscription," "renewal," or "billing" notices
- [ ] Consider a subscription tracking app to monitor all recurring charges
- [ ] Never save payment info on publisher websites
How to Stop Unwanted Mail Subscriptions
If you're receiving magazines or newspapers you never ordered:
- DMAchoice.org: Register to reduce unsolicited mail (free)
- CatalogChoice.org: Opt out of specific publications
- Direct contact: Call the publisher and request removal from their mailing list
- USPS Informed Delivery: Monitor what's coming and identify unwanted senders
Bottom Line
The subscription industry relies on inertia — most people pay for things they don't use because canceling seems like too much hassle. But a 10-minute phone call can save you $200-$500 per year in unwanted newspaper and magazine charges. Cancel everything you haven't read in 30 days, dispute unauthorized renewals aggressively, and use virtual cards to prevent future surprise charges.
Sources
- FTC guidelines on negative option marketing
- California Automatic Renewal Law (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint database
