Magazine subscriptions are straightforward to begin but surprisingly complex to end cleanly. Our Media Ltd operates several popular UK publications-The Week, The Week Junior, MoneyWeek, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance-and tens of thousands of subscribers find themselves trapped in auto-renewing contracts without knowing how to exit properly. You might have signed up for an introductory rate that has now expired, or you have simply decided the publication no longer serves you. Whatever your reason, understanding the exact cancellation process protects your bank account and saves you from unwanted charges months down the line.
The problem is not that Our Media Ltd makes cancellation deliberately impossible. The problem is that magazine subscriptions work differently from streaming services or gym memberships. You cannot simply stop your direct debit-that often triggers debt collection letters instead of a proper cancellation. Yafee exists precisely to help people navigate these hidden traps and cancel subscriptions the right way, the first time.
This guide walks you through every step of cancelling with Our Media Ltd, explains your legal rights under UK consumer law, reveals the common mistakes that cost people money, and arms you with the information you need to cancel without stress.
What makes Our Media Ltd cancellations different
Unlike digital subscriptions where you log into an account and click "cancel", Our Media Ltd subscriptions require direct contact with their customer service team. There is no online portal where you can self-serve your cancellation. This is standard across traditional magazine publishers in the UK, but it means you must initiate contact yourself-and keep proof that you did. Yafee recommends treating this as a formal business communication, not a casual request.
Why people cancel Our Media Ltd
Some subscribers realise the introductory rate (often 50 percent off) was temporary and the full price is not worth it. Others find they are not reading the issues, or life circumstances have changed. Families might cancel The Week Junior when their child moves to secondary school. Investors might downgrade from MoneyWeek after switching to passive index funds. Whatever your reason, you have the right to cancel without penalty, provided you follow the correct procedure and respect any minimum commitment period specified in your contract.
Understanding what you are actually paying for helps you identify which cancellation deadline applies to you and whether you might be eligible for a refund.
The week subscription options
The Week is their flagship weekly news digest for busy professionals. You can choose between print-only, digital-only, or a combined print and digital bundle. Annual subscriptions typically start around £4.50 per issue at full price, but new subscribers often receive introductory offers-sometimes 50 percent off for the first year, bringing your cost down to roughly £2.25 per issue. Monthly subscriptions exist but carry a higher per-issue cost, usually around £5 to £6.
The catch: introductory rates are time-limited. Once your promotional period ends (usually 12 months), your subscription renews at the full annual rate unless you cancel. This is where many subscribers get caught by surprise charges.
The week junior and children's content
Aimed at children aged 8 to 14, The Week Junior offers news and current affairs in an engaging, age-appropriate format. Pricing sits slightly below The Week, typically around £3.50 to £4 per issue at full price. It follows the same promotional structure: introductory offers significantly below the annual renewal rate.
MoneyWeek and financial subscriptions
MoneyWeek targets investors and financial professionals with weekly analysis and market commentary. Annual subscriptions typically run between £5 and £6 per issue at full price. Like other Our Media Ltd titles, MoneyWeek frequently offers promotional rates to new subscribers, sometimes slashing prices by 40 to 50 percent for the first 12 months. After the promotional period, you renew at the standard rate unless you cancel beforehand.
| Publication |
Full annual price (per issue) |
Typical intro offer (per issue) |
Renewal rate after promo |
| The Week |
£4.50 |
£2.25 (50% off) |
£4.50 |
| The Week Junior |
£3.75 |
£1.88 (50% off) |
£3.75 |
| MoneyWeek |
£5.50 |
£2.75 (50% off) |
£5.50 |
| Kiplinger's Personal Finance |
£4.00 |
£2.00 (50% off) |
£4.00 |
Your legal position under UK consumer law
Your right to cancel a magazine subscription is protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which governs distance contracts (any contract concluded without the parties being simultaneously present). Consequently, you have robust legal protections when you cancel a subscription with Our Media Ltd.
Consumer rights act 2015 and your cancellation rights
Under section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have a statutory right to cancel a distance contract within 14 calendar days from the day you received your first issue or agreed to the subscription. This period applies whether or not you have read the publication. Importantly, you do not need to provide a reason. Our Media Ltd cannot demand an explanation or refuse to process your cancellation on the grounds that you have had "too much use" of the service.
If you cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period and have not requested early delivery, Our Media Ltd must refund you in full. If you have already received a print copy, they can only deduct the cost of the publication (not a penalty) if you expressly asked for early dispatch.
Cancelling after the cooling-off period
Once the 14-day cooling-off period has expired, your rights depend on the terms of your contract with Our Media Ltd. If you signed up for an annual subscription at a promotional rate, your contract specifies when that promotional period ends and when the standard rate kicks in. You retain the right to cancel at any point by giving reasonable notice (typically 30 days), but you will not receive a refund for the remainder of your paid subscription.
However, if Our Media Ltd continues to charge you after you have given valid notice of cancellation, you can file a complaint with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or, depending on the payment method, your bank's chargeback service. Yafee recommends documenting every communication with Our Media Ltd to establish a clear record if a dispute arises.
Your legal position
You have the right to cancel a magazine subscription with Our Media Ltd at any point in your contract. Within 14 days of receipt, you can cancel and receive a full refund. After 14 days, you remain entitled to cancel on reasonable notice, but you will lose any remaining paid subscription value. Our Media Ltd cannot levy early-termination fees beyond the proportional cost of undelivered issues. If they refuse to honour a valid cancellation, you can escalate to Citizens Advice Consumer Service or the Financial Conduct Authority.
Our Media Ltd does not offer an online self-service cancellation portal; you must contact their customer service team directly by phone or post to initiate the process.
Step 1: gather your account details before you call
Before you contact Our Media Ltd, assemble the following information:
- Your subscription reference number (printed on your invoice or the magazine address label)
- The email address associated with your account
- The phone number you used when registering
- Your billing postcode
- The name and address on the subscription
- Your payment method (debit card or direct debit)
- The date you started your subscription and the promotional rate you received (if applicable)
Having this information ready speeds up the process and prevents Our Media Ltd from delaying your request because they cannot verify your account.
Step 2: contact Our Media Ltd by telephone
Call the appropriate number based on where you are located:
- UK subscribers: 0333 0162 143
- Overseas subscribers: +44 (0)1604 386267
When you call, inform the customer service agent that you wish to cancel your subscription effective immediately (or specify a date if you prefer to receive remaining paid issues). Do not agree to pause your subscription unless that is your intention-pausing does not cancel your contract, and you remain liable for payment after the pause period ends.
Request a cancellation reference number and note the agent's name and the date and time of the call. Most customer service teams provide a reference number immediately; this is your proof of cancellation.
Step 3: confirm your cancellation in writing
After the phone call, send an email to Our Media Ltd's customer service team confirming the conversation. In your email, include:
- The cancellation reference number the agent provided
- Your subscription reference number
- Your full name and billing address
- The date you called and the agent's name (if they provided it)
- A clear statement: "I wish to cancel my subscription effective [date]. Please confirm receipt and provide a final confirmation of cancellation."
This creates a written record and forces Our Media Ltd to respond in writing, which you can use if a dispute arises over unpaid invoices or unwanted charges.
Step 4: verify the cancellation on your next billing cycle
Wait until your next billing date (usually the same day each month for direct debit, or the renewal date for annual subscriptions) and confirm that no charge has been applied to your account. If Our Media Ltd continues to debit your account after your cancellation reference date, contact them immediately and request a refund for the unauthorised charges.
If they refuse, escalate to your bank. If you paid by debit card or direct debit, you can request a chargeback within 120 days of the disputed transaction. If you paid by credit card, your credit card provider's dispute process typically runs for 180 days.
Step 5: keep all documentation for at least 12 months
Retain the following documents:
- The cancellation reference number
- Your confirmation email and any reply from Our Media Ltd
- Bank statements showing the date the charges stopped
- Any invoices or payment confirmations from the time you held the subscription
If Our Media Ltd later claims you owe money or attempts to pursue debt collection, you will need these records to prove you cancelled legally and on time.
Common mistakes that cost money-and how to avoid them
The process of cancelling a magazine subscription is not inherently difficult, but several traps can derail your cancellation and leave you paying for months you did not intend to subscribe. Yafee has identified the most frequent mistakes and how to sidestep them.
Mistake 1: stopping your direct debit without notifying Our Media Ltd first
Many people assume that cancelling the direct debit instruction at their bank will automatically cancel the subscription. It will not. Instead, Our Media Ltd will attempt to collect the payment, your bank will decline it, and Our Media Ltd will escalate the matter to a debt collection agency. You will then face phone calls, letters, and potential damage to your credit file-even though you intended to cancel.
Always cancel the subscription first with Our Media Ltd directly. Only after you receive a cancellation reference number should you cancel the direct debit at your bank. Yafee strongly advises against reversing this order.
Mistake 2: cancelling during the cooling-off period but not requesting a refund explicitly
If you cancel within 14 days of receiving your first issue, you are entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. However, Our Media Ltd will not automatically refund your money unless you explicitly request it. When you call, say: "I wish to cancel and request a full refund of my subscription payment under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 20."
This phrasing makes it clear that you understand your legal rights and are not simply asking to stop future charges. Most customer service agents will process the refund immediately when they hear this language.
Mistake 3: accepting a "pause" instead of a cancellation
Some customer service agents will offer to pause your subscription for a month or two, hoping you will forget about it and the charges will resume. A pause is not a cancellation. Your contract remains active, and you remain liable for payment once the pause period ends.
If you want to cancel, be explicit: "I wish to cancel my subscription permanently, not pause it. I do not want to be charged again after any pause period." Request a cancellation reference number, not a pause confirmation.
Mistake 4: not keeping proof of the cancellation call
If you call Our Media Ltd and do not write down the agent's name, the reference number, the date, and the time, you have no proof that you cancelled. Our Media Ltd's records may show that you called, but they might claim you did not request a cancellation, and customer service notes can be unclear or disputed.
Follow the Yafee process outlined above: call, get a reference number, send a confirmation email, and keep all documentation. Without this trail, you will struggle to defend yourself if Our Media Ltd insists you still owe money.
Mistake 5: assuming promotional discounts carry over if you pause and resume
If you pause your subscription during a promotional period, the promotional rate typically does not resume when you restart. Your subscription will renew at the standard rate. If you might want to read the publication again in the future, cancelling and resubscribing as a new customer (which often triggers a new promotional offer) is sometimes cheaper than pausing.
What happens after you cancel
Once your cancellation is processed, several things occur in sequence, and knowing what to expect prevents confusion and unnecessary worry.
Receiving your final issue
If you cancel mid-subscription, Our Media Ltd will usually send you the issue you have already paid for, unless you ask them to stop immediately. Your final issue arrives within the normal delivery window for your region (typically 3 to 7 days after publication for UK subscribers).
If you cancelled during the 14-day cooling-off period and requested immediate cancellation without receiving the first issue, Our Media Ltd will not send it to you (unless you agreed to expedited delivery and bear the cost).
The direct debit or payment method stops
If you paid by direct debit, no further charges will be attempted after your cancellation date. If your bank had already authorised a charge for the next billing cycle, contact Our Media Ltd to request a refund of that charge. If they decline, contact your bank and request a chargeback.
If you paid by card, the same principle applies: no further charges occur after the cancellation date. However, if an erroneous charge appears, your credit or debit card provider can typically reverse it within 120 to 180 days.
Refunds for the cooling-off period
If you cancelled within 14 days, you should receive a refund within 14 calendar days of confirming your cancellation. Most refunds are processed to the original payment method (your debit or credit card) and appear within 5 to 10 working days. In rare cases, Our Media Ltd may ask for your bank account details if the original payment method is no longer available.
If you do not receive a refund within 28 days of your cancellation, contact Our Media Ltd again and request an update. If they continue to delay, file a complaint with Citizens Advice Consumer Service or escalate to the Financial Conduct Authority.
Cancellations after the 14-day period
If you cancelled after the cooling-off period, you will not receive a refund unless you paid for a full year and cancelled partway through (in which case, Our Media Ltd may offer a pro-rata refund for undelivered issues, though they are not legally obliged to). Most subscriptions, once cancelled, are final-no refund is due.
Your last issue will arrive as scheduled, and no further charges will be made after the effective cancellation date.
Refunds and pro-rata calculations
Understanding how Our Media Ltd calculates refunds prevents disputes over the amount you should receive back.
Within the 14-day cooling-off period
You are entitled to a full refund of all subscription payments if you cancel within 14 days of receiving the first issue. There are no deductions, even if you have read the magazine or received multiple issues (which would be unusual in a 14-day window).
After the 14-day cooling-off period
Once the cooling-off period ends, your right to a refund depends on the contract terms. If you paid for a full year upfront and cancel partway through (for example, after 6 months of a 12-month annual subscription), Our Media Ltd may calculate a pro-rata refund based on the number of remaining undelivered issues:
Pro-rata refund formula: (Annual subscription cost) / (number of issues per year) x (number of remaining undelivered issues)
For example, if you paid £54 for an annual subscription to The Week (52 issues per year) and cancelled after 26 weeks, you would have paid approximately £1.04 per issue. If 26 issues remain undelivered, your refund would be approximately £27. However, Our Media Ltd is under no statutory obligation to offer this calculation; many publishers retain all payment after the cooling-off period expires.
Always ask Our Media Ltd whether a pro-rata refund is available. If they refuse and you believe you have grounds to dispute it (for example, because their terms promised a pro-rata calculation), escalate to Citizens Advice or the Financial Conduct Authority.
In the vast majority of cases, Our Media Ltd honours cancellation requests promptly. Nevertheless, if they refuse, delay indefinitely, or continue charging after you have provided a valid cancellation reference, you have formal escalation routes under UK consumer law.
Step 1: formal written notice to Our Media Ltd
Send a letter or email to Our Media Ltd's registered office (address provided at the end of this guide) stating:
- Your subscription reference number
- The date you called to cancel and the cancellation reference they provided
- The specific date you provided as the effective cancellation date
- The fact that charges have continued (with dates and amounts if applicable)
- A clear demand: "I require a full refund of all unauthorised charges within 14 days. If I do not receive this refund, I will escalate to the Financial Conduct Authority and request a chargeback."
Send this letter via recorded delivery so Our Media Ltd cannot claim they did not receive it.
Step 2: contact the financial conduct authority
If Our Media Ltd does not respond or refuses to refund unauthorised charges within 14 days, file a complaint with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA regulates subscription businesses and has the power to fine companies that breach consumer protections. You can file a complaint online at the FCA website or by post.
The FCA will investigate and can instruct Our Media Ltd to refund you if they find that charges continued after a valid cancellation.
Step 3: chargeback via your bank or card provider
If you paid by debit card or credit card, you can request a chargeback from your bank or card provider within 120 days of the disputed charge (debit card) or 180 days (credit card). Yafee advises using a chargeback as a final resort, after you have exhausted direct negotiation and FCA escalation, because it may damage your relationship with Our Media Ltd and could result in a debt collection notice.
Provide your bank with copies of your cancellation reference, confirmation email, and proof that charges continued. Most banks will reverse the charges in your favour if you have clear documentation.
Comparison: should you cancel or pause your subscription
Before you cancel, consider whether pausing might better suit your circumstances. However, understand the difference clearly.
| Factor |
Cancellation |
Pause |
| Contract status |
Ends completely |
Remains active |
| Charges during pause |
None |
None (during pause only) |
| Promotional rate applies when you resume |
No; you would be a new customer |
No; standard rate usually applies |
| How long you can pause |
N/A |
Typically 1-3 months |
| Best for |
Permanent exit from subscription |
Temporary break (holiday, financial hardship) |
Yafee recommends cancellation if you do not plan to read the publication again within 6 months. Pausing is more cost-effective only if you intend to resume within 3 months and the promotional discount has already expired.
Documentation checklist before you cancel
Use this checklist to ensure you have everything you need before contacting Our Media Ltd:
- Subscription reference number: Check your latest invoice, the address label on a printed magazine, or your email confirmation.
- Email address on file: The address Our Media Ltd uses to contact you about your subscription.
- Phone number on file: The number you provided when you registered (if different from your current number).
- Billing postcode: The postcode associated with your subscription account.
- Full name and address: As they appear on your subscription.
- Payment method: Debit card, credit card, or direct debit (and the last four digits of the card or account number).
- Subscription start date: When you first subscribed.
- Promotional rate received: The discount percentage and the date it expires (if applicable).
- Pen and paper (or notepad app): To record the cancellation reference, agent's name, date, and time.
- Email ready: Draft a confirmation email before you call, so you can send it immediately after without forgetting details.
If you cannot reach Our Media Ltd by phone or prefer to cancel in writing, use the following address:
Our Media Ltd
Customer Services
Peterborough
United Kingdom
Phone:
UK subscribers: 0333 0162 143
Overseas subscribers: +44 (0)1604 386267
Send cancellation letters via recorded delivery to ensure Our Media Ltd receives them and cannot claim the letter was lost. Include your subscription reference number, full name, billing address, and a clear statement that you wish to cancel your subscription effective immediately or on a specified date.
Expect a response within 5 to 10 working days. If Our Media Ltd does not acknowledge your cancellation letter within this timeframe, follow up with a phone call and reference the letter's date and contents.
Cancelling your Our Media Ltd subscription is straightforward if you follow the correct procedure. Gather your account details, call the appropriate customer service number, record the cancellation reference, send a confirmation email, monitor your next billing cycle, and keep all documentation for 12 months.
Remember: you have the right to cancel within 14 days and receive a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. After 14 days, you can still cancel, but you will not receive a refund unless your contract explicitly provides for pro-rata calculations.
If Our Media Ltd refuses to honour your cancellation or continues charging after you have cancelled, escalate to the Financial Conduct Authority or request a chargeback from your bank. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel magazine subscriptions and navigate disputes with publishers; our core advice is always the same: document everything, communicate in writing, and do not accept delays or refusals.
Yafee stands ready to support you through every step of the cancellation process, whether you need clarification on your consumer rights or help escalating a dispute. Visit yafee.com to explore your options and find resources tailored to your specific situation.