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How to cancel forbes magazine in new zealand and avoid getting locked in

What forbes is and why you might want to cancel

Forbes is a global business media company that publishes news, analysis and magazine content on business, investing, technology and leadership. You can access Forbes content through multiple channels: the web, the Forbes mobile app, print magazines, or bundled services like Readly.

Each purchase channel has its own renewal terms, refund rules and cancellation processes. Whether you subscribed for one month to read a specific feature or committed to a year-long membership, you have the right to cancel whenever you choose. At Stopee, we help readers understand exactly where they stand with their subscription and how to exit cleanly.

Understanding your forbes subscription type

Forbes offers several subscription pathways, and the path you took determines how you cancel. You might have purchased directly through Forbes's website, signed up via the Apple App Store or Google Play, or bundled Forbes into a larger magazine subscription through Readly. Each option requires a different cancellation approach.

Why cancelling matters

Your subscription will auto-renew on its next billing date unless you actively stop it. Cancelling before your renewal date prevents unexpected charges and gives you back control of your money. Stopee specialises in catching these auto-renewal traps, so you never pay for something you no longer want.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

What the consumer guarantees act protects you

New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act (1993) gives you the right to cancel digital services under certain conditions. If Forbes fails to provide what it promised, contains defects, or is unfit for purpose, you may be entitled to a refund or cancellation without penalty, even if you are mid-term.

This applies whether you subscribed through Forbes directly or via a third-party platform. If Forbes refuses to honour your cancellation request or refund claim, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission or seek assistance from Citizens Advice Bureau.

Your rights around auto-renewal

Under Consumer Protection (Pre-Contractual Information) Regulations 2021, companies must clearly disclose auto-renewal terms before you purchase. If Forbes failed to make the cancellation method obvious at checkout, or if they buried the renewal date in small print, that is a breach of your rights. Stopee recommends documenting your purchase confirmation email as evidence if you need to dispute a charge.

How to cancel forbes: step-by-step for each platform

Cancel a web (digital) subscription through forbes

If you subscribed directly on Forbes's website, you cancel through your Forbes account page. This is the most straightforward route and usually takes fewer than five minutes.

1. Visit the Forbes website and sign in to your account using your email and password.
   • If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" and follow the reset link sent to your email.
2. Navigate to your account settings (usually found under your profile menu or "My Account").
   • Look for a "Subscriptions" or "Billing" section.
3. Find your active Forbes subscription in the list and click the option to cancel or manage renewal.
   • Forbes typically shows your next renewal date and the option to turn off auto-renewal.
4. Confirm your cancellation request. You should see a confirmation message on screen.
   • Screenshot or save this confirmation page for your records.
5. Check your email within 24 hours for a cancellation confirmation email from Forbes.
   • Warning: If you do not receive an email confirmation, your cancellation may not have been processed. Contact Forbes support immediately.

Pro tip: Cancel at least three days before your renewal date. Forbes's billing system can take 24-48 hours to process, and you do not want your card charged while your cancellation is pending.

Cancel via the apple app store

If you subscribed to Forbes through your Apple device, you must cancel through Apple's subscription settings, not through Forbes. Apple handles all billing and refunds for in-app purchases.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
   • On newer devices, swipe up from the home screen to access Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top of the Settings menu to open your Apple Account page.
   • You may be asked to sign in again for security.
3. Select "Subscriptions" from the menu options.
   • You will see a list of all your active and expired subscriptions.
4. Find "Forbes" in the list and tap on it.
   • The app displays your next billing date and your plan details.
5. Tap "Cancel Subscription" or "Turn Off Auto-Renewal".
   • Apple will ask you to confirm. Select "Confirm Cancellation".
6. You will see a cancellation confirmation on screen. Apple will also send a confirmation email to your Apple ID email address within minutes.
   • Warning: Turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before your billing date. If your renewal date is tomorrow, cancelling today may come too late.

Pro tip: After you cancel, your Forbes app access will remain active until the end of your current billing period. You lose access the day after your paid period ends, not immediately.

Cancel via google play

Google Play subscriptions work similarly to Apple subscriptions. Google handles billing, and you cancel through the Google Play app or website, not through Forbes.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
   • If you are using a computer, visit play.google.com in your browser.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
   • Select "Manage your Google Account".
3. Go to the "Subscriptions" tab.
   • You will see all active subscriptions linked to your Google account.
4. Find "Forbes" in the list and tap on it.
   • Google displays your plan type, next billing date and price.
5. Tap "Cancel Subscription".
   • Google will ask you to confirm your cancellation and may offer a discount to keep you subscribed. Ignore this if you want to cancel.
6. Confirm your cancellation by tapping "Yes" or "Cancel Subscription" again.
   • You will receive a confirmation email from Google Play within minutes.

Pro tip: If you signed up for a free trial through Google Play and do not want to be charged after the trial ends, cancel the subscription within the trial period. Do not wait until the trial is about to expire.

Cancel a readly bundle subscription

If you access Forbes through Readly (which bundles thousands of magazines including Forbes into one subscription), you cancel your Readly subscription, not Forbes directly. This removes access to Forbes and all other Readly magazines.

1. Open the Readly app or visit readly.com in your web browser.
   • Sign in using your Readly email and password.
2. Navigate to your account settings or subscription management page.
   • Look for "My Account", "Subscriptions" or "Billing" in the menu.
3. Find your active Readly subscription and select the option to cancel or manage auto-renewal.
   • Readly displays your next billing date and monthly cost.
4. Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation.
   • Readly will send you a cancellation confirmation email.
5. Your access to Forbes and all Readly magazines will end at the close of your current billing period.
   • Warning: If you want to continue accessing Forbes alone after you cancel Readly, you will need to subscribe to Forbes separately. Readly does not offer prorated refunds if you cancel mid-month.

What happens after you cancel your forbes subscription

Your access and account status

Cancellation stops auto-renewal charges, but your access does not end immediately. You retain full access to Forbes content for the remainder of your paid billing period. If you paid for a month on the 15th, you keep access through the 14th of the next month, even if you cancel on the 20th.

After your paid period expires, your access to premium Forbes content will be blocked. You can still read free articles on Forbes's website, but subscriber-only stories and the full app experience become unavailable.

Your account and personal data

Your Forbes account, email and profile information remain stored in Forbes's system after you cancel. You are not automatically deleted, and this is normal. If you want your account and data completely removed, you must request deletion separately under Forbes's privacy procedures.

To request data deletion, contact Forbes customer support through their privacy page and ask to invoke your right to erasure under applicable privacy laws. Stopee recommends requesting deletion in writing (email is sufficient) so you have a record of your request.

Will you receive a refund after cancellation

Web and digital subscriptions

Forbes's refund policy changed on 15 April 2024. Understanding which policy applies to you depends on when you subscribed.

• Subscriptions purchased on or after 15 April 2024: All amounts paid are non-refundable, even if you cancel during your subscription period. If you cancel mid-term, you do not receive a refund for unused time.
• Subscriptions purchased before 15 April 2024: Annual and biennial plans qualified for prorated refunds if you cancelled mid-term. You would receive a refund for the unused portion based on the number of days or months remaining. Monthly plans were generally non-refundable.

Pro tip: Check your subscription purchase confirmation email to see the exact purchase date. This determines which refund policy applies to you.

Apple app store and google play refunds

Apple and Google control all refunds for in-app subscriptions. Forbes cannot issue refunds directly for these purchases. If you want a refund after cancelling an Apple or Google subscription, you must request it through Apple or Google, not Forbes.

• Apple App Store: Visit support.apple.com/en-nz, navigate to "See all topics" and select "Subscriptions and purchases". Follow the steps to request a refund within 14 days of the charge date. Apple grants refunds more easily if you request within 48 hours of the charge.
• Google Play: Open the Google Play app, go to "Manage my subscriptions" and find the Forbes charge you want to refund. Tap "Report a problem" and explain why you want a refund. Google processes refund requests within 5-7 business days.

Warning: Apple and Google limit refunds to services with defects or services you did not authorise. If you purchased the subscription voluntarily and simply changed your mind, they may deny your refund request, though you can appeal.

Readly and bundle subscription refunds

Readly does not offer refunds for monthly subscriptions if you cancel mid-month. Your access continues until your next billing date, but you receive no partial refund for unused days.

If Readly's service was unavailable or defective for a significant portion of your billing month, you may request a credit toward your next month or a partial refund by contacting their customer service team.

Print magazine subscription refunds

If you subscribed to printed Forbes magazines, you may be entitled to a prorated refund for undelivered issues if you cancel mid-term. This depends on when your subscription began and your specific purchase agreement. Contact Forbes customer support with your subscription number and cancellation request to explore this option.

Forbes pricing and plan options in new zealand

Available subscription plans

Forbes offers multiple ways to access its content, each at different price points. The plan you choose affects your cancellation process and refund eligibility, so understand your option before you commit.

Prices shown are current as of 2024 but may vary depending on promotions, your location within New Zealand and App Store currency handling. Always check the exact price at checkout before confirming your purchase.

Common mistakes that delay or prevent cancellation

Cancellation feels straightforward until something goes wrong. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers work through these frustrations, and we want you to avoid the pitfalls that trap other subscribers.

Cancelling on the wrong platform

The most common mistake is trying to cancel on Forbes's website when you actually subscribed through Apple or Google. You cannot cancel an app-store subscription through Forbes, no matter how clearly you request it. Forbes's system has no authority over Apple or Google payments.

Always check your original purchase receipt or confirmation email. If it came from Apple or Google, cancel through that platform. If it came from Forbes, cancel on Forbes.com. Stopee recommends saving a screenshot of your confirmation email that shows which platform processed your purchase.

Cancelling too close to your renewal date

You might cancel on 30 April only to see a charge post on 1 May. This happens because billing systems process 24-48 hours before the renewal date. If you wait until the last day, your cancellation request is still "in the queue" when your renewal charge is triggered.

Cancel at least three to five days before your renewal date. Check your confirmation email for the exact renewal date, then count backwards and cancel early.

Assuming cancellation means immediate access loss

Many subscribers cancel and panic when they can still use Forbes the next day. Cancellation stops future charges; it does not revoke your current access. You keep what you have already paid for until the billing period ends. This is not an error, it is how subscriptions work.

Not saving your cancellation confirmation

If Forbes charges you after you cancel and then denies you cancelled, you have no proof without your confirmation email or screenshot. Save every piece of confirmation you receive: the on-screen message, the email Forbes or Apple or Google sends you, and a screenshot of your account settings after cancellation is complete.

Cancellation checklist: before, during and after

Before you cancel

• Open your original purchase confirmation email to identify which platform you used (Forbes, Apple, Google, Readly).
• Log in to your subscription account and note your next renewal date and amount.
• Take a screenshot of your current subscription status for your records.
• Plan to cancel at least three to five days before your next billing date.

During cancellation

• Follow the step-by-step process for your specific platform (web, Apple, Google or Readly).
• Screenshot the on-screen confirmation message that appears after you submit your cancellation.
• Note the time and date you cancelled.

After cancellation

• Watch for a confirmation email within 24 hours. If it does not arrive, contact support immediately.
• Wait 48 hours, then log back into your account and verify that auto-renewal is turned off.
• On your next renewal date, confirm that no charge posts to your card.
• If you are charged after cancellation, gather all your screenshots and contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge.

Escalation: what to do if forbes refuses to cancel

If you cannot cancel online

Some subscriptions, particularly older accounts or print editions, do not have self-service cancellation options. If the Forbes account page offers no cancel button, contact Forbes customer support directly.

You can reach Forbes through their website's help or contact page. Email is your best option because it creates a written record of your request. Write a clear, dated email stating your name, subscription email, subscription type and request to cancel. Stopee recommends keeping this email and any response Forbes sends.

If a charge posts after you cancelled

If you see a charge to your card after you cancelled, take these steps:

1. Wait 48 hours. Billing systems are not always instant, and a pending charge may reverse.
2. Log back into your subscription account and confirm that auto-renewal is still off.
3. If auto-renewal was somehow turned back on, turn it off again immediately.
4. Contact your bank or credit card company and file a dispute if the charge does not reverse within 7 days.
   • Provide your bank with your cancellation confirmation email and the charge receipt.
5. Contact Forbes customer support in writing and demand a refund, citing your cancellation confirmation.
6. If Forbes refuses to refund and the charge violates New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act, escalate to the Commerce Commission or Citizens Advice Bureau.

If forbes breaches its cancellation obligations

If Forbes makes cancellation deliberately difficult, hides the cancel button, or continues to charge after you cancel, you have legal recourse. Under the Consumer Protection (Pre-Contractual Information) Regulations 2021 and the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Forbes must provide a fair and transparent cancellation method.

Document everything: screenshots, emails, dates and amounts. Report the breach to the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) and seek advice from Citizens Advice Bureau (citizens-advice.org.nz).

Comparing forbes to other business news subscriptions

Alternatives if you want to cancel forbes

If you are cancelling because Forbes no longer meets your needs, you have other options for business and investing news in New Zealand.

Forbes contact details for written cancellation

If you need to cancel by mail

While Forbes does not list a specific New Zealand address for subscription cancellations, you can send written correspondence to their US headquarters. This is your option if online cancellation fails and email support does not respond within 14 days.

Forbes Media LLC
60 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10165
United States

In your letter, include your full name, email address, subscription number (if you have it), the email address used for the subscription, your subscription type (web, app, print) and a clear statement that you request immediate cancellation of your subscription and confirmation in writing.

Pro tip: Send this by registered post or email to a general contact address on Forbes.com so you have proof of delivery. Allow 21-28 days for a postal response from the United States.

Online support channels

Before you resort to postal mail, try Forbes's online support through their website. Look for "Help", "Contact Us" or "Customer Support" in the website footer. Most inquiries receive a response within 24-48 hours.

Final thoughts: take control of your subscriptions

Cancelling Forbes is straightforward if you know which platform you used and you cancel before your renewal date. The process takes five minutes, costs nothing and prevents unwanted charges. Stopee has guided thousands of New Zealand consumers through cancellations just like yours, and we know that clarity and confidence matter when you are protecting your money.

Your auto-renewing subscriptions are not locked in forever. You have the right to cancel whenever you choose, and you have legal protections if companies try to trap you or hide their cancellation process. Document your cancellation, verify the charge does not post, and move forward knowing you took control of your account.

If you face resistance from Forbes or from your payment platform, Stopee's comprehensive guides and consumer resources are here to support you. We have helped thousands of subscribers navigate cancellations across dozens of services, and we are committed to making sure you get out cleanly and fairly.