Manage The Week

How to cancel the week subscription in new zealand and claim your refund

What is the week and why new zealand readers choose it

The Week is a weekly current-affairs magazine that distils news, opinion and analysis from hundreds of global sources into concise, digestible briefings. Instead of drowning in headlines, you get the essential story in under an hour each week.

The magazine reaches New Zealand readers via print delivery, iOS and Android apps, and web access through the publisher's platform. You can choose the format that fits your life, whether that's a physical copy arriving in your letterbox or a digital edition you read on your commute.

But subscriptions don't always work out. Life changes, reading habits shift, or you might find the content no longer matches your needs. That's exactly why Stopee exists: to help you understand your cancellation options and protect your rights as a consumer.

Available formats and how they work

The Week offers three main pathways to read: physical magazines delivered by post, digital subscriptions through the App Store (iOS), and digital subscriptions through Google Play (Android). You can also access the publication via the publisher's website with a web subscription.

Each platform has its own subscription management system, cancellation process, and refund terms. Understanding which one you're on is the first step to cancelling without losing money.

Your consumer rights in new zealand: what the law protects

New Zealand consumer law gives you strong protections when buying subscriptions online, especially digital ones.

The 14-day cooling-off period and the consumer guarantees act

Under New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act, you generally have 14 days to change your mind about an online purchase and claim a refund. This applies to digital subscriptions bought through apps or websites, even if the seller claims "all sales final" or "no refunds".

The catch: you must not have agreed to start using the service before that 14-day window closes. If you've already downloaded and read content, the seller may argue you waived your right to cool off. That said, Stopee recommends you still push back if you cancel within 14 days and haven't substantially used the service.

For print subscriptions, you're entitled to a refund for any unmailed issues if you cancel within a reasonable timeframe (typically 30 days). If you've already received the magazines, you keep them and the refund covers only future issues.

What to do if the seller refuses your refund

If The Week's publisher denies your refund claim, escalate to the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) or the Disputes Resolution Scheme (DRS). Keep all evidence: your order confirmation, cancellation request, the date you sent it, and any response refusing the refund.

Stopee has helped thousands of readers push back against unfair refusal, and the law is on your side if you act within the legal window.

How to cancel the week on each platform

Cancellation steps differ depending on whether you subscribed through Apple, Google, the web, or by post. Follow the method that matches your purchase.

Cancel your app store subscription (iPhone and iPad)

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Select Subscriptions.
4. Find The Week in your active subscriptions list.
5. Tap The Week and select Turn Off Auto-Renew or Cancel Subscription.
6. Confirm the cancellation.

Important timing: You must turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before your next billing date. Apple won't refund the current subscription period if you cancel mid-cycle, but turning off auto-renewal stops future charges immediately.

Pro tip: Take a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation showing the date. Apple sometimes re-enables subscriptions without warning, and a screenshot proves you cancelled.

Cancel your google play subscription (Android)

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left.
3. Go to Subscriptions.
4. Select The Week from your list.
5. Tap Cancel subscription and confirm.

Warning: Google Play refund policy is stricter than Apple's. You have only 48 hours from purchase to request a refund. After that, cancelling stops future billing but forfeits the current period. Contact Google Play support immediately if you're within 48 hours and want your money back.

Cancel your web or print subscription

1. Visit The Week's subscriber portal (check your confirmation email for the login link).
2. Log in with your email and password.
3. Navigate to Account or Subscription Management.
4. Select Cancel Subscription or Contact Support.
5. If you cannot find the option online, email the customer service address provided in your subscription confirmation or billing statement.
6. Include your order number and the email address on the account.

Pro tip: Send your cancellation email via registered mail or a service that provides read receipts. Web support can be slow, and proof of your request protects you if there's a dispute later.

For print subscriptions cancelled within 30 days of purchase, request a refund for unmailed issues in the same email. The publisher is legally obliged to refund you for magazines they haven't sent yet.

What happens to your access after you cancel

Knowing what you lose and keep after cancellation helps you plan when to press the button.

App subscriptions after cancellation

When you turn off auto-renewal on Apple or Google, your access continues until the end of the current billing cycle. You can keep reading until that date arrives. Once it expires, the app either locks you out or offers a new subscription prompt.

Your account data typically remains on file. If you want The Week to delete your account entirely (email, reading history, preferences), contact customer support and request data removal. This is your right under privacy law, though it's separate from cancellation.

Print subscriptions after cancellation

Cancelling a print subscription stops all future mailings immediately. Any magazines already in your letterbox are yours to keep. You don't have to send them back.

Keep your cancellation confirmation and the last invoice showing your final issue. If the publisher continues sending magazines after your cancellation date, contact them and demand a refund. Document every unwanted issue with photos.

Refunds: what you're entitled to and how to claim them

Refund eligibility depends on the format you subscribed to and how long you've been using it.

App subscription refunds (Apple and google)

Apple's policy is clear: cancelling an active subscription does not refund the current period. You stop future charges, but you forfeit what you've already paid for that billing cycle.

However, if you're within 14 days of your first purchase and haven't substantially used the service, New Zealand consumer law overrides Apple's terms. Request a refund through Apple's support page, citing the Consumer Guarantees Act. Include a statement that you've cancelled before significant use. Stopee recommends this approach because the law is on your side.

Google Play allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase. After that, no refund is issued. Contact Google Play support immediately if you're in that window.

Print subscription refunds

If you cancel a print subscription within 30 days of purchase, you're entitled to a full refund for any issues not yet mailed. Contact the publisher with your order number and request the refund in writing.

For longer subscriptions cancelled later, you can claim a pro-rata refund for unmailed issues. For example, if you've paid for 52 weeks and cancel after 26, you should receive a refund covering the remaining 26 weeks.

Free trials and promotional offers

If you signed up for a free trial and didn't cancel before it ended, your first paid charge is non-refundable unless you're within the 14-day cooling-off window. To avoid this, set a phone reminder to cancel at least two days before the trial ends.

The week pricing and plan comparison

Costs vary by country, platform and billing frequency. Here's what you need to know before deciding whether to cancel or switch.

For current New Zealand pricing in NZD, check the App Store, Google Play, or theweek.co.uk/subscribe and select your country. Prices shift regularly based on promotions.

Common mistakes that cost you money

Cancelling sounds simple, but many readers make errors that delay their request or cost them refunds. Here are the traps Stopee sees most often.

Turning off notifications instead of auto-renewal

The Settings menu has options for both notifications and subscriptions. Turning off The Week's notifications does not cancel your subscription. You still get charged. Always navigate to Subscriptions specifically and confirm auto-renewal is off.

Cancelling too late in the billing cycle

If you cancel one day before your next charge, you're still charged. Cancel at least 48 hours before the billing date to be safe, especially with Google Play's strict 48-hour refund window.

Not requesting a refund for unmailed print issues

Many print subscribers cancel but forget to ask for a refund on issues they haven't received. The publisher won't volunteer this; you must ask in writing. This can be worth significant money if you cancel partway through an annual subscription.

Assuming "all sales final" overrides new zealand law

The Week or its payment processors may state that subscriptions are non-refundable. In New Zealand, this claim is void under the Consumer Guarantees Act. If you cancel within 14 days of a digital purchase, you have a legal right to refund. Don't accept a refusal based on "company policy".

After you cancel: what to check and how to stay protected

Cancellation doesn't end your responsibility. A few follow-up steps ensure you're actually off the hook and there's no surprise billing.

Check your next billing statement

Wait until the date your next charge would have been due. Log into your App Store, Google Play or bank account and confirm The Week does not appear. If you see a charge, contact support immediately and escalate to your bank if the publisher won't refund.

Pro tip: Take a screenshot of your billing statement showing no charge after your cancellation date. This is your proof if a dispute arises later.

Keep all receipts and confirmation emails

Archive every email from The Week, Apple, Google or your bank related to this subscription. If the publisher claims you never cancelled or tries to bill you again in six months, these records are your evidence. Stopee recommends keeping them for at least two years.

Monitor your email for unexpected "re-subscription" offers

Some publishers re-send promotional emails after cancellation, tempting you to sign up again. These are just marketing; they don't re-activate your subscription unless you click. Delete them or unsubscribe from marketing emails if they annoy you.

Checklist: your cancellation roadmap

Use this checklist to ensure you don't miss a step.

• Identify which platform you subscribed through (App Store, Google Play, web, or print).
• Note your next billing date from your last invoice or confirmation email.
• Cancel at least 48 hours before that date.
• If within 14 days of purchase or 30 days for print, request a refund in writing.
• Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation.
• Wait for the next billing cycle and check your statement for unexpected charges.
• Archive all emails and receipts.
• If refused, escalate to the Commerce Commission or DRS within six months.

Getting help if the week refuses to cancel or refund you

Most cancellations go smoothly, but occasionally a publisher drags its feet or denies a legitimate refund claim. Here's how to escalate.

Step one: ask for a written explanation

If The Week's support team refuses your refund, reply to their email asking for the specific reason in writing. Many companies deny claims verbally but back down when asked to commit to paper. Reference the Consumer Guarantees Act and your cancellation date.

Step two: file a complaint with the commerce commission

If the publisher ignores you or refuses in writing, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission at comcom.govt.nz. Include your order confirmation, cancellation request, the refusal email, and a timeline of events. The Commission takes consumer complaints seriously, and many publishers refund immediately once a formal complaint is lodged.

Step three: use the disputes resolution scheme

If The Week is a member of the Disputes Resolution Scheme (DRS), you can file a free dispute and have an independent mediator review your case. Check the DRS website to see if The Week is listed. This is often faster than the Commerce Commission.

Stopee has seen readers recover hundreds of dollars through the DRS when publishers refused to refund.

Why you might want to cancel the week

Not everyone who starts a subscription needs to keep it. Here are honest reasons to cancel without guilt.

You're not reading it

If you subscribe but don't open the app or magazine for weeks, the money isn't worth it. Cancelling is the right call. There's no shame in realising a publication doesn't match your routine.

Budget cuts or financial stress

Subscriptions add up quickly. If you're tightening your spending, cancelling optional services is one of the first smart moves. You can always re-subscribe later when finances improve.

Switching to a competitor or free alternative

Maybe you prefer news.com.au, BBC News, or The Guardian's free content. There's no loyalty obligation to The Week. Compare what works best for you and move on.

Unhappy with editorial direction or quality

If The Week's tone, bias or story selection no longer matches your values, vote with your wallet. Publishers listen to cancellations and churn data.

Contacting the week: customer service and postal addresses

If you can't cancel online, you'll need to reach The Week directly. The publisher uses UK-based support, which may respond slower to New Zealand requests.

Email and online support

Check your latest invoice or welcome email for a customer service email address. Typically, this is in the format support@theweek.co.uk or help@theweek.com. Send your cancellation request with your subscription reference number and full name.

Allow up to 10 business days for a response. If you don't hear back within that window, send a follow-up email marked "Follow-up Request" and reference your original date.

Postal address for cancellation (UK-based)

Because The Week does not maintain a dedicated New Zealand postal address, print cancellations should go to the UK headquarters. Write clearly and include your subscription number:

The Week Magazine
Customer Services
Dennis Publishing
30 Cleveland Street
London W1T 4JD
United Kingdom

Sending mail to the UK takes 2-4 weeks from New Zealand. Use this method only if email fails. Send via registered post if you need proof of delivery.

Phone support

Check your invoice for a UK phone number. Calling from New Zealand incurs international charges. Email is usually faster and creates a record of your request.

Summary: take control of your subscription today

Cancelling The Week is straightforward once you know which platform you're on and what your rights are. Whether you're cancelling because you don't read it, want to save money, or prefer another publication, New Zealand law backs your decision.

Remember: you have a 14-day cooling-off right on digital subscriptions and 30-day refund eligibility for unmailed print issues. If The Week refuses, escalate to the Commerce Commission or DRS. Keep screenshots of all cancellations and billing statements.

Stopee has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers cancel smoothly, claim refunds, and protect themselves from unexpected re-billing. Visit Stopee.com today to track your cancellation, store your confirmation, and get step-by-step reminders. Let Stopee guide you through the process so you can move forward with confidence and reclaim your money.