Manage The Business Journals

How to cancel the business journals and stop unexpected charges

What the business journals is and why you might want to leave

The Business Journals is a network of United States-based business publications that delivers local market news to executives, founders, investors, and managers. If you subscribed from the Philippines, you are paying for access to digital articles, premium reports, email newsletters, and sometimes print editions from city-focused outlets like the San Jose Business Journal and Atlanta Business Chronicle. The catch: your billing, cancellation process, and support team are all US-based, which means you need to navigate their system, not a local Philippine alternative.

Many subscribers in the Philippines do not realise they are managing a US subscription until they try to cancel and discover that local payment methods and support channels do not exist. At Stopee, we help consumers like you navigate these cross-border subscriptions with confidence and clarity.

Who should consider canceling

You might cancel if you are no longer reading the publications, if the cost no longer fits your budget, or if you subscribed by accident through an app store. You might also cancel if you subscribed during a promotional trial that ended and you do not want to pay full price.

How much the business journals costs

The Business Journals pricing varies by publication and package. Based on verified industry sources, an annual print-and-digital subscription can run around PHP 5,700-7,200 (approximately USD 100-120) per year, billed annually or in monthly installments. Some corporate packages are listed higher, but these are not standard for individual subscribers in the Philippines.

Why cancellation matters and what can go wrong

Cancelling a foreign subscription feels simple until you realise the company does not answer your emails, your cancellation did not register, or you are still being charged two months later. At Stopee, we know that frustration is real, and we want you to avoid it.

The biggest traps consumers face

The first trap is not knowing where you subscribed. If you bought through the App Store (iPhone or iPad), you must cancel in Apple subscriptions, not in The Business Journals website. If you bought through Google Play, you must cancel there instead. If you bought directly from the website, you cancel in your account dashboard. Many people cancel in the wrong place and get shocked when the next charge arrives.

The second trap is not checking your renewal date. The Business Journals renews automatically on the same date each year (or month, if you chose monthly billing). If you cancel on the wrong date, you might have already paid for the next period with no refund coming. Pro tip: take a screenshot of your renewal date before you do anything else.

The third trap is assuming support will be quick. The Business Journals support team responds by email at support@bizjournals.com, and response times from the Philippines can stretch to five to ten business days. If you need urgency, live chat is often faster, but you cannot assume instant replies.

Consumer protection laws in the philippines

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) protects you even when you buy from a US company. Under this law, you have the right to cancel a subscription within fourteen (14) days of the charge if you did not authorise it, and you have the right to transparent billing and fair cancellation terms. If The Business Journals refuses to refund you after a cancellation request, you can escalate the complaint to the National Privacy Commission (NPC) or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines.

Stopee recommends keeping all cancellation confirmations, emails, and screenshots. These documents are your proof if you need to file a dispute with your bank or credit card company.

How to cancel the business journals step by step

The cancellation method depends on where you subscribed and what billing system The Business Journals uses for your account. Follow the right path for your situation.

Cancel via your web account dashboard

This is the most direct route if you subscribed directly on bizjournals.com.

1. Sign in to your account at bizjournals.com with your email and password.
   • If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it.
   • Check that you are on the official bizjournals.com site, not a phishing copy.
2. Look for "Account" or "Subscriptions, Licenses & Access" in the top navigation or account menu.
   • This section shows your current subscription, renewal date, and payment method.
   • If the page loads slowly or looks broken, refresh or try a different browser.
3. Find the "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription" button.
   • Click it and follow the on-screen prompts.
   • The system may ask why you are leaving; you can skip this or answer if you wish.
4. Confirm the cancellation on the final screen.
   • The system will show a confirmation message or send a confirmation email within minutes.
   • Save this email or take a screenshot immediately.
5. Wait for a confirmation email from support@bizjournals.com within 24 hours.
   • The email will state your cancellation is complete and when your access ends.
   • If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, contact support directly.

Warning: Do not rely on the website confirmation alone. Web confirmations can disappear if you clear your browser history. Save the email confirmation.

Cancel if you subscribed through apple (iPhone or iPad)

App Store subscriptions renew separately from web subscriptions. You must cancel in Apple's system, not on The Business Journals website.

1. Open the Apple Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
   • Tap your name at the top of the screen.
   • Tap "Media & Purchases" or "Subscriptions" (exact name varies by iOS version).
2. Tap "Subscriptions."
   • You will see a list of all active subscriptions tied to your Apple ID.
   • Look for "The Business Journals" or the specific publication name (e.g., "San Jose Business Journal").
3. Tap The Business Journals subscription.
   • A detail screen appears showing your renewal date and price.
4. Tap "Cancel Subscription" at the bottom.
   • Apple will ask you to confirm; tap "Confirm."
   • You will see a message like "Subscription cancelled" or "You have until [date] to use this subscription."
5. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation.
   • Apple does not always send a separate email, so the screenshot is your proof.

Pro tip: If you cannot find the subscription in Apple Settings, it may have already been cancelled or transferred to a web account. Check your account at bizjournals.com directly.

Cancel if you subscribed through google play (Android)

Android app subscriptions route through Google Play and must be cancelled there.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
   • Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
   • Tap "Manage your Google Account."
2. Tap the "Payments & subscriptions" tab at the top.
   • This screen shows all active subscriptions linked to your Google account.
3. Tap "Subscriptions."
   • Look for The Business Journals or the specific publication.
4. Tap The Business Journals subscription.
   • You will see the renewal date, price, and a "Cancel subscription" button.
5. Tap "Cancel subscription."
   • Google will ask if you want to keep your subscription; select "Cancel subscription" again to confirm.
   • A confirmation screen appears showing your cancellation is complete.
6. Save a screenshot immediately.
   • Google sends a confirmation email, but screenshots provide faster proof if you need it.

Warning: Do not just uninstall the app. The subscription will keep renewing because the cancellation happens in Google Play, not on your device.

Cancel via email or live chat if the website does not work

If you cannot access the website, see no cancel button, or your account is locked, contact support directly.

1. Send an email to support@bizjournals.com with the subject line "Subscription Cancellation Request."
   • Include your full name, email address, and account number (if you have it).
   • Write: "Please cancel my subscription to The Business Journals effective immediately. Do not renew my subscription on [insert renewal date]. Please confirm cancellation in writing."
   • Send from the email address linked to your account.
2. Use live chat if the website has a chat button.
   • Live chat is often faster than email from the Philippines (response times are typically 2-4 hours during US business hours).
   • Ask the agent to confirm cancellation in writing and provide a reference number.
   • Take a screenshot of the entire conversation.
3. Wait for a response within 24-48 hours.
   • The support team will send a confirmation email from support@bizjournals.com or their support system.
   • This email is your official cancellation proof.
4. If you do not hear back within 48 hours, send a follow-up email or try live chat again.
   • Keep copies of all emails for your records.

Pro tip: Mention in your email that you are writing from the Philippines and include your phone number if The Business Journals has it on file. This can speed up responses.

After cancellation: what happens next

Cancelling does not end your subscription instantly. You can usually access the service until the end of your current billing period, then your access stops.

Access and timing

If you cancel mid-cycle (for example, on the 15th of a month when your renewal is on the 1st), you keep access until the 1st. On that date, your login will stop working. Stopee recommends downloading or saving any articles or reports you want to keep before that date arrives.

If you cancel before your renewal date and your credit card is active, The Business Journals will not charge you again. If your payment method is expired or declined on renewal day, you may not be charged, and your account may be suspended instead. Verify after 24 hours that you are no longer logged in to confirm cancellation worked.

Refund expectations

The Business Journals' standard refund policy is no refunds for partial months or unused time. If you paid annual and cancel mid-year, you typically do not get a refund unless:

• You cancel within 14 days of your first charge (the Consumer Act of the Philippines covers this).
• You can prove the company failed to deliver the service you paid for.
• Your payment method was charged fraudulently or without your consent.

If you believe you deserve a refund, contact support at support@bizjournals.com and explain your reason clearly. If they refuse and you are within 14 days of the original charge, file a chargeback with your credit card company or bank. Stopee can guide you through that process.

Common mistakes people make when canceling

Cancellation mistakes hurt, especially when you realize weeks later that you are still being billed. Here are the traps to avoid.

Mistake one: cancelling in the wrong place

You cancelled on the website, but you subscribed through Apple. You cancelled in Google Play, but the charge came from the web. This is the most common mistake, and it costs people real money.

Before you cancel, verify where you subscribed: check your credit card or bank statement for the merchant name. If the charge says "APPLE MEDIA SERVICES" or "GOOGLE PLAY," cancel there. If it says "BIZJOURNALS" or "HEARST," cancel on the website or email support.

Mistake two: not saving proof

You got a screen that said "Cancellation complete," but you did not take a screenshot. A month later, you are charged again and have no proof you cancelled. A confirmation email gets buried in spam and you never see it.

Stopee advises saving everything: screenshots, confirmation emails, reference numbers, and the date and time you cancelled. Keep these for at least six months after your final charge date.

Mistake three: cancelling too close to the renewal date

You cancel on renewal day, but the charge has already processed. The company processes charges once per day, usually early morning Philippine time. If you are cutting it close, cancel at least two days before your renewal date.

Mistake four: assuming the website is always correct

The website says you are cancelled, but the cancellation did not save because of a browser error or internet drop. A few weeks later, the charge hits. Always follow up with email or live chat to confirm, especially if you see no confirmation email within 24 hours.

Your consumer rights and how to escalate

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) gives you rights that protect you against unfair subscription practices, even when dealing with a US company.

What the law says

Under the Consumer Act, you have the right to:

• Cancel a subscription within 14 days of the charge if you did not agree to it in advance.
• Receive transparent information about billing dates, renewal terms, and cancellation procedures before you subscribe.
• Get a refund if the company fails to deliver the service.
• File a complaint if the company refuses to cancel or keeps charging after cancellation.

These rights apply even if The Business Journals is a US company, as long as you are a consumer in the Philippines.

How to escalate if the business journals refuses to help

If you cancel and are still charged after 5-7 days, or if support ignores your cancellation request, follow these steps:

1. Send one final email to support@bizjournals.com with "URGENT: Cancellation Not Processed" in the subject line.
   • Reference your previous cancellation request and the date you made it.
   • State the charge amount and date.
   • Ask for a response within 48 hours.
2. If no response arrives within 48 hours, file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in the Philippines.
   • Visit www.npc.gov.ph or call +63 2 8928 6300.
   • Explain that the company is charging you against your cancellation request.
   • Provide all emails, screenshots, and cancellation confirmations.
3. File a chargeback with your bank or credit card company.
   • Tell your bank you cancelled the subscription and were charged anyway.
   • Provide cancellation proof (emails, screenshots, confirmation numbers).
   • The bank will investigate and may reverse the charge within 10-30 days.
4. Contact the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as a secondary escalation.
   • Visit www.dti.gov.ph or call +63 2 3318 6000.
   • File a complaint if the company ignores the NPC or refuses to cooperate.

Pro tip: Keep a written record of every step: date you cancelled, date support replied (or did not), date you were charged after cancellation, and date you filed complaints. This timeline is powerful evidence.

Checklist before and after cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel cleanly and protect yourself from accidental charges.

Summary and next steps

Cancelling The Business Journals is straightforward if you know where you subscribed and you follow the right process. The web account method is fastest; app store cancellations are equally simple once you find the right menu. Email or live chat works if the website fails.

The biggest risk is cancelling in the wrong place or not saving proof. A second charge is avoidable if you verify your cancellation within 7 days and escalate immediately if something goes wrong.

Remember: Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions like The Business Journals, recover unwarranted charges, and understand their rights as Philippine consumers buying from US companies. If you face resistance or unexplained charges, Stopee (stopee.com) provides step-by-step guidance on filing complaints with the National Privacy Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry, and your bank. You are not alone in this process, and you have legal protections. Visit Stopee today to see how we can help you stay in control of your subscriptions and reclaim your money.

For cancellation inquiries or account support, contact The Business Journals at support@bizjournals.com or use live chat at bizjournals.com. Keep all cancellation confirmations and save this guide for your records.