How to cancel The Week magazine subscription in malaysia (and reclaim your money)

What The Week is and why malaysians subscribe

The Week is a weekly news magazine built on condensed summaries of major stories, analysis, and commentary from global sources. Malaysian readers pay for convenience-you get the week's essential news in one digestible package, rather than trawling multiple outlets. The subscription model runs on auto-renewal unless you actively cancel, which is where most Malaysian subscribers encounter friction.

The subscription formats available

The Week offers three payment tiers: Digital-only (app and website access, plus daily editions and early access to the weekly magazine), Print-only (physical delivery to your home), and Print plus Digital (both formats combined). The service also runs a 6-week free trial for new subscribers, after which you are charged automatically unless you cancel before the trial period ends.

Your subscription renews annually on your payment method on file. The Week typically sends renewal notices about 30 days before charging, but many Malaysian subscribers miss these notices because email support runs on US Eastern Time (EST), not Malaysian Time (MYT). This timing gap is a common source of accidental charges.

Why cancellation matters in malaysia

The Week's customer service window is Monday to Friday, 6am to 8:30pm EST, and Saturday, 7am to 5pm EST. When you are working in Kuala Lumpur or Penang, these hours often fall outside your own business day, making it harder to reach support before a renewal charge hits your card. Furthermore, The Week does not publish a clear self-service cancellation portal, so you must contact the company directly or cancel through the platform where you subscribed (Apple, Google, or Direct Debit).

Pricing in malaysian ringgit and conversion facts

The Week advertises prices in US dollars, but you pay in ringgit through your Malaysian card or bank. Conversion rates fluctuate, so your actual charge may differ from the listed price.

Exchange rate volatility and foreign transaction fees charged by your bank can push your actual debit 5 to 10 percent higher. Yafee recommends you check your bank statement for the exact ringgit amount charged, because this figure becomes proof of what you paid if you need to dispute a charge later.

Your consumer rights under malaysian law

As a Malaysian consumer, your protection is anchored in the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA 1999) and the Consumer Protection (Electronic Commerce Transactions) Regulations 2012. These laws grant you the right to cancel a distance contract (which includes online magazine subscriptions) within 10 days of purchase, provided you have not yet received or downloaded the product in full.

Your legal position

Distance contracts: Under Section 119 of CPA 1999, you have a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase. If The Week debits your card for the first time during this window, you can demand a full refund without penalty, provided you have not fully used the service (Section 119(2)).

Auto-renewal clauses: The Consumer Protection (Electronic Commerce Transactions) Regulations 2012 require that The Week obtain your express informed consent before each auto-renewal. In practice, this means The Week must send you a clear renewal notice at least 15 days before charging you again. If the notice is absent, unclear, or sent after the charge has already been deducted, you have grounds to dispute the charge with your bank and demand a refund.

Cancellation rights: Even after the 10-day cooling-off period, you have the right to cancel a subscription at any time under common contract law. The Week may retain fees for the period you have already consumed, but must not charge you for services not yet delivered. If The Week continues to bill you after you have clearly requested cancellation, you can lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) or escalate to your bank for a chargeback.

Enforcement and escalation routes

If The Week refuses to honour your cancellation request or disputes your refund claim, you have three escalation paths:

• Bank chargeback: Contact your bank's dispute resolution team and report an unauthorised or refused cancellation. Most Malaysian banks will reverse the charge if you provide evidence of your cancellation request and The Week's failure to comply.
• MDTCA complaint: Lodge a formal complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs at mdtca.gov.my. The MDTCA has enforcement power and can compel The Week to refund you if the company breaches CPA 1999.
• Small Claims Court: For claims under RM5,000, you can file a small claims case in the Kuala Lumpur or Shah Alam courts without needing a lawyer. The court fee is modest, and you can recover your subscription cost plus costs.

Yafee strongly recommends keeping copies of all cancellation emails, confirmation messages, and bank statements. These documents prove your cancellation intent and The Week's response, which is essential if you escalate to the MDTCA or your bank.

How to cancel The Week in four concrete steps

Cancellation depends on where and how you subscribed. Follow the route that matches your billing method to avoid partial cancellations that leave you exposed to future charges.

Step 1: identify your billing method and gather your account details

Before you contact anyone, establish where your charge originates. Open your bank statement or card statement and look for the merchant name on your latest Week charge. This tells you whether The Week bills you directly, or whether Apple, Google, or your bank's direct debit system is processing the payment.

1. Log into your bank account or card provider online and locate your most recent Week charge.
2. Note the exact merchant name (e.g., "The Week Digital LLC", "Apple In-App", "Google Play Charge", or your bank name if Direct Debit).
3. Take screenshots of your statement, your subscription confirmation email, and any free trial offer details you received.
4. Log into The Week's website (theweek.com) or app with your subscription email and password, then screenshot your account page showing your plan type and next renewal date.
5. Note your subscription email address, full name, and billing address exactly as they appear in your account.

Step 2: cancel via the platform where you subscribed (if applicable)

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or set up a direct debit mandate with your bank, you must cancel through that platform first. Emailing The Week directly will not stop these payments, because the platform-not The Week-controls the subscription and billing. Consequently, cancelling only through The Week while Apple, Google, or your bank continues to process the payment will result in continued charges.

• Apple App Store (iOS): Open Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find The Week, and tap Cancel Subscription. Apple confirms the cancellation immediately. You retain access until your current billing period ends.
• Google Play Store (Android): Open the Google Play app, tap your profile, go to Payments and Subscriptions, select Subscriptions, find The Week, and tap Cancel Subscription. Google also confirms immediately.
• Direct Debit (Malaysian bank): Contact your bank's customer service and request cancellation of the Direct Debit mandate linked to The Week. Provide your bank with the original mandate agreement or reference number. Your bank will confirm the cancellation in writing within 5 to 10 working days. Yafee advises that you follow this bank cancellation with an email to The Week confirming the Direct Debit has been stopped on your side, so The Week does not attempt to collect on a failed debit and accidentally reactivate the subscription.

Once you have cancelled through the platform or your bank, move to Step 3 to notify The Week directly. This dual cancellation prevents billing gaps and ensures clean separation.

Step 3: email The week's customer service to confirm cancellation

Send a formal cancellation email to The Week's customer service. Do not rely on in-app messages or contact forms, because these leave no paper trail. Email creates a timestamped record that you can show to your bank or the MDTCA if disputes arise later.

1. Compose a new email to [email protected] with the subject line: "Cancellation Request - [Your Full Name] - [Your Subscription Email]".
2. In the email body, include:
   • Your full name (as it appears in your account)
   • Your subscription email address
   • Your billing address
   • Your current subscription plan type (Digital, Print, or Print plus Digital)
   • Your next renewal date (from your account page)
   • A clear statement: "I request cancellation of my subscription effective immediately. Please confirm cancellation in writing and confirm that no further charges will be applied to my account."
   • If you subscribed during a free trial, add: "I subscribed on [date] for a 6-week free trial. I wish to cancel before the trial converts to a paid subscription."
3. Do not demand a refund in this first email-simply request cancellation. Request often precedes refunds, and you do not want The Week to refuse cancellation on the grounds that you are making a separate refund claim.
4. Send the email and wait for a response. The Week typically replies within 24 to 48 hours during its service window (Monday to Friday, 6am to 8:30pm EST; Saturday, 7am to 5pm EST).
5. If you receive a confirmation email, take a screenshot and save it in a folder marked "Week Cancellation" on your computer.

Step 4: follow up and claim a refund if appropriate

If The Week confirms cancellation but you are still within 10 days of your original purchase (your cooling-off period), send a follow-up email requesting a full refund. If you are outside the 10-day window but the cancellation was timely-and you have not yet received unmailed print issues-you can also request a refund of fees for those unmailed copies under Section 119 of CPA 1999.

1. Compose a second email to [email protected] with the subject: "Refund Request - [Your Full Name] - [Original Purchase Date]".
2. Include:
   • Your reference to your cancellation confirmation from Step 3 (include the date and reference number if The Week provided one)
   • Your original purchase or subscription start date
   • The exact ringgit amount you have been charged (from your bank statement)
   • A statement such as: "My subscription began on [date] and I requested cancellation on [date], which is within 10 days of purchase / before any issues were delivered. I request a full refund of RM[X] to my original payment method."
   • If you are outside the 10-day window: "I have received [X] digital editions / [X] print issues and am entitled to a refund for unmailed copies under the terms. Please refund the pro-rata amount of RM[X]."
3. Send and wait for The Week's refund response (typically 5 to 10 business days).

What happens after your cancellation is confirmed

Cancellation does not always mean instant loss of access. Most subscriptions grant you continued access until the end of your paid billing period, even if you cancel mid-cycle.

Your access after cancellation

Once The Week confirms your cancellation, you retain access to your subscription until the end of your current annual billing period. For example, if you renewed on 15 January and cancel on 20 February, you can still access The Week's digital content or receive print editions until 14 January of the following year. After that date, your login credentials will no longer grant access.

Download any digital editions or back issues you wish to keep before your access expires. The Week does not provide extended archives to cancelled subscribers, so once your access ends, you cannot retrieve past content unless you resubscribe.

Refund timelines

If The Week approves a refund, the money typically returns to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days. If you paid by credit card, your card issuer (your bank) deposits the credit into your statement; you see it reflected on your next billing cycle. If you paid by direct debit, The Week instructs your bank to reverse the debit, and your bank processes the reversal within 5 working days of The Week's instruction.

Yafee recommends you check your bank statement 10 days after The Week confirms the refund. If the money has not appeared, contact your bank immediately. The bank can trace the refund and expedite it if The Week sent the instruction but your bank's system delayed processing.

Common mistakes that delay or prevent cancellation

Cancellation is straightforward once you know the route, but small errors create friction and unwanted charges. Here are the mistakes Yafee sees most often, and how to avoid them.

Cancelling only through your email or app message

Many subscribers message The Week via the app's contact form or post to a general inbox address. These informal channels are not monitored reliably, and messages can be lost or ignored. The Week's customer service team operates on a ticketing system, and your cancellation request may not reach the right team member if it arrives via a non-standard route.

Fix: Always send a formal email to [email protected] from your personal email account. Use a clear subject line that includes the word "Cancellation" and your name. Email creates a timestamped record that you can cite if The Week later claims it never received your request.

Cancelling only through the app or website, not through your payment method

If you subscribed through Apple, Google, or Direct Debit, and you attempt to cancel by logging into The Week's website and clicking a "Manage Subscription" button, you may find the button leads you back to the original platform (Apple, Google, or your bank). Clicking cancel there is correct, but many users assume the cancellation is complete and do not follow up with an email to The Week. Consequently, The Week's system never receives notification that you have cancelled, and your subscription may remain flagged as active in their database.

Fix: After cancelling through Apple, Google, or your bank, email The Week to confirm the cancellation and request written confirmation. This dual-layer approach ensures both the payment platform and The Week's subscription database are aligned.

Not documenting the cancellation request

If you call The Week on the phone or chat with a live agent (if available), you may receive verbal confirmation that your cancellation is complete. However, verbal confirmations are not enforceable if a dispute later arises, because The Week's agent may not have added a note to your account, or another team member may process a renewal payment without seeing the internal note.

Fix: Always insist on written confirmation via email. If you speak to someone by phone, ask them to send you a confirmation email or reference number, and follow up with your own email reiterating the date and time of the phone call, the agent's name, and what was discussed.

Missing the free trial conversion deadline

The Week's 6-week free trial automatically converts to a paid subscription if you do not cancel before the trial ends. Many Malaysian subscribers miss the conversion because renewal notices are sent via email, and if your email account is full or the notice lands in your spam folder, you do not see it until after the charge has already been processed.

Fix: Calendar your trial end date the moment you sign up. Set a phone reminder for 3 days before the trial ends, giving you time to cancel without rushing. Check your email spam and promotions folders for any renewal notices from The Week.

Refunds, chargebacks, and what you are entitled to recover

Refund entitlement depends on when you cancel relative to your purchase date and how much content you have consumed. Malaysian consumer law is explicit on this point.

Refunds within the 10-day cooling-off period

Section 119 of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 grants you a 10-day cancellation window from the date of purchase. If you cancel within 10 days and have not downloaded or consumed the majority of the service (e.g., have not downloaded all 10 weekly digital editions if the subscription includes them), you are entitled to a full refund. The Week cannot impose cancellation fees, restocking charges, or deductions for "content viewed".

To claim this refund, send The Week a copy of your proof of purchase (the original charge receipt) and your cancellation request email. Note the exact date of purchase and the date of your cancellation request in your email.

Refunds outside the cooling-off period but before content is delivered

If you cancel after 10 days but before you receive or download significant content, you may still claim a pro-rata refund for the portion of your subscription that remains unconsumed. For example, if you subscribed for an annual plan on 1 January at RM396.00, and you cancel on 31 March before any print issues have been delivered, you have consumed 90 days of a 365-day period. Your refund would be approximately (275 days / 365 days) x RM396.00 = RM298.00.

The Week's terms state that you are entitled to a refund of any fees for issues that have not been mailed to you. In practice, if your cancellation is confirmed before The Week ships your next print issue, you should receive a refund for that unshipped issue.

Recovering foreign transaction fees and currency losses

If your Malaysian bank charged a foreign transaction fee when The Week billed you in US dollars, you cannot recover that fee from The Week-it is your bank's charge. However, if The Week's pricing was misrepresented (for instance, if it showed a lower price than what you were actually charged), or if The Week does not honor its own refund terms, you can dispute the entire transaction with your bank as a fraudulent or unauthorized charge.

Your bank will then initiate a chargeback investigation, and The Week will have the opportunity to respond. If The Week fails to respond or its response is inadequate, your bank will reverse the charge.

Timing and what to expect during the cancellation process

Cancellation is not instantaneous, and understanding the timeline prevents confusion and false assumptions that you have been ignored.

How yafee can help you cancel smoothly

Cancellation disputes are common, and many Malaysian subscribers face refusals or delays from The Week. Yafee (yafee.com) specializes in helping consumers navigate subscription cancellations across digital services, magazines, and streaming platforms. Yafee has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions and recover their money by:

• Drafting legally sound cancellation emails that comply with Malaysian consumer law
• Documenting your cancellation request with timestamps and references
• Escalating to The Week's management if customer service refuses to cooperate
• Preparing complaint dossiers for the MDTCA or your bank if The Week ignores your request
• Advising you on your rights under CPA 1999 and helping you cite the relevant sections in your correspondence with The Week

If you have already sent cancellation emails to The Week and received no response, or if The Week has continued to charge you after you requested cancellation, Yafee can review your situation and recommend next steps. Visit yafee.com to submit your case details, and Yafee's legal team will assess your position and advise whether you have grounds to escalate to your bank or the MDTCA.

Key takeaways and your cancellation checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you have completed every step and documented your cancellation thoroughly.

• Gather screenshots of your account page, latest billing statement, subscription confirmation email, and free trial details (if applicable).
• Identify your billing method: direct charge, Apple, Google, or Direct Debit.
• If you subscribed through Apple, Google, or Direct Debit, cancel through that platform first.
• Send a formal cancellation email to [email protected] from your personal email address, including your name, subscription email, billing address, plan type, and next renewal date.
• Save a copy of The Week's confirmation email and note the date received.
• If you are entitled to a refund (within 10 days or for unshipped content), send a follow-up refund request email within 5 days of the cancellation confirmation.
• Monitor your bank statement for 10 days. If a charge appears after your cancellation, contact your bank immediately to report an unauthorized transaction.
• If The Week does not refund you within 10 business days of approval, or if you receive no response to your cancellation email after 3 business days, file a complaint with the MDTCA (mdtca.gov.my) or escalate to your bank for a chargeback.
• Keep all emails, screenshots, and bank statements in a single folder until the matter is resolved.

Final steps and where to send your cancellation

The Week's verified customer service email address is [email protected]. This is the only direct contact method Yafee recommends for cancellation, because it creates a permanent, timestamped record.

If you receive no response from [email protected] after 3 business days, try the following alternative routes:

• General inquiries email: [email protected] (if listed on theweek.com)
• Phone (US EST): Call The Week's US customer service line during their operating hours (Monday to Friday, 6am to 8:30pm EST; Saturday, 7am to 5pm EST). Request a confirmation email of your cancellation after speaking to an agent.
• MDTCA escalation (Malaysia): If The Week fails to respond or refuses cancellation, lodge a formal complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs at mdtca.gov.my or call +603 8000 8000.
• Your bank's dispute team: Contact your bank's customer service and request a chargeback for an unauthorized or refused cancellation. Your bank will investigate and reverse the charge if The Week cannot provide evidence of your informed consent to continued billing.

Yafee (yafee.com) has helped thousands of consumers cancel magazine subscriptions, streaming services, and digital memberships. If you encounter resistance from The Week or believe the company has breached its obligations under Malaysian consumer law, Yafee's team can review your case and advise on escalation options. Your consumer rights are protected under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, and you are entitled to cancel any subscription and recover your money if the company fails to honor its terms. Contact Yafee today for a free assessment of your cancellation claim.