I took out a subscription for Good Housekeeping in April 2026, which offered a £10 M & S voucher. Despite numerous requests I have still not received it. I have been given various excuses and have bee... See more
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What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Just the most appalling underhand business. So much of their business must be from auto-renewing subscriptions that they make it far harder than needs be to cancel. Absolutely no reason why you should... See more
Company replied
My wife has a subscription to Red and Good Housekeeping. The July issue of the latter magazine failed to materialise and after waiting a few weeks she e-mailed to request a replacement. Keshia from c... See more
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I placed a subscription for Red magazine which offered a £10.00 M&S voucher. Voucher never arrived. Have called their customer service on 3 occasions and was promised it was being dealt with and I w... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Shop Hearst UK's official store for latest magazine subscriptions from titles such as Good Housekeeping, ELLE and Cosmopolitan, to beauty boxes and magazine gift subscriptions.
Contact info
United Kingdom
- hearstmagazines.co.uk
1.3
Bad
1K reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 98% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 month
How this company uses Trustpilot
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Dishonest Practices
My subscription did not show up on Hearst's website until I found that it had been renewed by auto renew. I have previously paid by Direct Debit so this was a total surprise. I rang Hearst and was told I could not cancel this enforced auto renew until 2 months before renewal. I find this a most dishonest way to keep subscribers and wonder if it is even legal?
I have the date when I can cancel clearly marked on my calender!
May 31, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
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Signed up for a promotion via Tesco…
Signed up for a promotion via Tesco clubcard, little did I know they setup an auto-renewal (which you can't cancel online) and got charged the full amount when the promotion ended which was very expensive. When I called to cancel they refused to refund saying my 14 day "change of mind" right only applies to the start of the contract. Fortunately new laws come in affect in 2026 to give 14 days grace on subscription renewals.
02/06/2025 - UPDATE
They have since contacted me to give a full refund and cancelled my subscription.
May 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We apologise for any frustration or inconvenience caused by your experience with our promotion and subscription service.
We understand how important transparency is, and we strive to provide clear communication regarding the recurring nature of subscriptions. At the time of signing up, the details of the auto-renewal process are outlined to ensure customers are fully informed. However, we acknowledge that this may not have met your expectations.
To address your specific concerns, I’m pleased to confirm that the payment has now been refunded, and you should have received an email confirming this. Additionally, your subscription has been cancelled as per your request.
Please rest assured that we take feedback like yours seriously and use it to improve our processes and customer support. If there’s anything further we can assist you with, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Avoid their magazine subscriptions
Shocking behaviour !!!!
I wish I had thought to read reviews before dealing with this company.
Total scam !
I tried a magazine for 6 months at a promotional price of £9.99.
It was due to renew in July so I phoned at the beginning of May to cancel, only to be told my automatic renewal payment had been taken in April (£29.99)
This is such a rip off, taking payment months before it’s needed.
They said it’s in the small print (took me ages to find it eventually in one of their emails) and you are not notified that a payment is going to be taken.
They refuse to let me cancel or offer a refund, customer services are dreadful (I phoned and got someone in the Philippines who wouldn’t help)
Warn everyone you know. I hope my review can stop someone making the mistake of dealing with Hearst Magazines (Good Housekeeping, Runner’s Club, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Country Living, Harper’s, Red etc etc)
Do NOT be fooled by promotional offers, offers with free gifts etc
May 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for your feedback—I'm sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with your Country Living subscription. We completely understand your concerns and truly regret the poor service you received.
Previously, renewal payments were processed before the final issue was delivered. Thanks to feedback like yours, we’ve improved our policy: payments will now occur after the final issue is received. After reviewing your case, we’ve issued a refund and have emailed you the details.
If you have any further questions, please respond to the email, and we’ll be happy to help.
The worst customer service I’ve ever experienced
Just wanted to add similar bad experience. Ordered and paid for a beauty box advertised by Runners World/Hearst 2 April. After 1 month, didn’t arrive. Now informed the deal is no longer available despite it being re-advertised in May’s edition.
Never again. Customer service non existent with the pair of them.
May 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. After reviewing your order, we discovered that the box was dispatched but unfortunately did not reach you. Since the box has now sold out due to high demand following the feature in the May issue of Runner's World, we have processed a refund for your payment. Additionally, a member of our team has contacted you via email with further details. We truly value your understanding and are committed to ensuring a better experience in the future.
Subscription Trap
I was interested in subscribing to one of their titles, until I read the reviews here.
I think I will wait until new legislation is enacted, Google "Government News: Measures Unveiled to Crack Down on Subscription Traps"
April 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
I am sorry to read that you have decided not to take out a subscription with us. Our subscriptions are typically set to renew automatically at the end of each period, this is detailed during the ordering process and reiterated in all order confirmations. We strive for transparency, but should an automatic renewal occur unexpectedly, we offer a refund if notified within two days of the payment.
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
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Refuse to refund subscription which was…
Refuse to refund subscription which was taken with no notification given. The website states you can cancel via your online account, except you can't!
Spoke to someone to cancel who refused to give their name! Fraudulent behaviour.
April 17, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
Our subscriptions are typically set to renew automatically at the end of each period, this is detailed during the ordering process and reiterated in all order confirmations. We strive for transparency, but should an automatic renewal occur unexpectedly, we offer a refund if notified within two days of the payment.
We have reached out to you by email to provide further information, and have also refunded this payment. Should you have any further questions, please respond to our email.
Signed for a year. Don't do it!
Signed up for a year.. magazine in shop April and I have to wait until June... I want out of this bullshit! And they have taken £3 today what for? They won't answer my messages appropriately...I am going to cancel DD
April 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
Be very careful subscribing to this…
Be very careful subscribing to this company. They will auto renew the subscription without any warning 8 weeks before it is due (it is in the VERY small print at the end of their confirmation email and not written as a number but as text so not easy to spot.) The new subscription is expensive and there is no way they will give a refund. Total rip off, what a way to make money, shame on you!
April 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Our subscriptions are typically set to renew automatically at the end of each period, this is detailed during the ordering process and reiterated in all order confirmations. We strive for transparency, but should an automatic renewal occur unexpectedly, we offer a refund if notified within two days of the payment. After this timeframe we would implement the cancel on expiry policy.
We have emailed you to regarding your cancellation, and have processed a refund of your renewal payment. If you have any further questions, please reply to the email and a member of our team will be able to assist you.
£34.99 every 6 months with no notice
Really fed up that there is no notification of renewal money being taken. Really difficult to access cancellation even when you manage to create an account .
April 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
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No warning if EARLY automatic renewal.
I signed up for one year of magazines as part of a birthday present. Despite the renewal taking place in April, payment for the automatic renewal was taken in February.
This could well be in the small print but for a company that sends almost daily marketing emails the don’t warn you in advance of the automatic renewal date. They also don’t respond to emails or social messages and you have to call a premium rate to cancel.
April 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. I understand your concerns, and I'm truly sorry for any inconvenience you experienced. One of our team members has reached out to you and arranged a refund for your payment.
Our subscriptions are typically set to renew automatically at the end of each period, this is detailed during the ordering process and reiterated in all order confirmations. We strive for transparency, but should an automatic renewal occur unexpectedly, we offer a refund if notified within two days of the payment. Your feedback is invaluable, and we're committed to enhancing our services. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve this matter.
Awful
Awful. I signed up for a discounted 1 year subscription which auto renewed in June 2025. They took money from my account in March 2025 but didn't email me ahead of taking the money, relying on the small print in an email they sent in April 2024. Don't think that's fair and now I'm stuck paying full price for a magazine I don't want. Had a lengthy conversion with their online sales person who confirmed that this was their policy and there was absolutely no way they would be able to provide a refund. I'll never order a magazine from them again.
April 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
To cancel your renewal
To cancel your renewal, you will need to call their helpline (their email inboxes are unmanned) and you will need to repeatedly ask for the auto-renewal to be cancelled otherwise they'll try and get you to take on a new "offer". Its a pretty painful process that will take an hour, at least.
Update. They eventually emailed and refunded me, hopefully fixing their inbox issue in the process.
March 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We have emailed you to regarding your cancellation, and have processed a refund of your renewal payment. If you have any further questions, please reply to our email. Our customer service mailboxes are manned and we will aim to respond within one working day.
Poor customer service
Magazines are okay, but customer service/response times are pretty awful! No notification that my subscription was due, they just took the money, and haven't responded to a request to cancel it. Have had to raise a case with PayPal to attempt to sort it. Really wouldn't recommend.
March 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I am truly sorry to hear about the inconvenience you've experienced with our service. We strive to ensure our customers' satisfaction, and it's clear we fell short in your case.
We have emailed you to confirm that your auto renewal payment has now been refunded. If we can provide any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Complaining won't resolve your issue and dissatisfied with the customer service…
Took money from my account for subscription without advising or confirming I wished to continue with receiving magazine despite saying I would receive notification.
When refund requested it was like hitting a brick wall and kept quoting procedure and refused a refund. Had to cancel my PayPal immediately to prevent a reoccurrence and will not be using this company again!!
March 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
Automatically took out a payment for a…
Automatically took out a payment for a magazine 3 months before it ran out. I phoned to cancel subscription and asked for a refund. They told me they had sent an email informing me about the subscription automatically renewing but I did not receive one.
Many times I asked for a refund but they would not refund my money.
Absolute disgrace!
Hearst Magazines got in touch with me after this review and have now refunded my money in full.
Shame I had to make it public.
Thank you Hearst Magazine for the refund.
March 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I am truly sorry to hear about the inconvenience you've experienced with our service. We strive to ensure our customers' satisfaction, and it's clear we fell short in your case.
We have emailed you to provide further information and confirm that your renewal payment has now been refunded. Should you need any further assistance with your subscription, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Subscription was £1 for 3 issues…
Subscription was £1 for 3 issues followed by further 6 monthly payments. Received 2 magazines and not the three I paid for. now they are repeatedly requesting the 6 monthly payments! Luckily I used a bank account with hardly any money in it so the direct debit is not being paid. Not happy at all.
Would not recommend
March 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
Unable to cancel
Unable to cancel. They took the payment for a renewal and despite e-mailing, cancelling online twice and calling they just don't want to issue a refund. They just tried to upsell and give me the magazine for longer.
Thankfully I paid with paypal so will get them to persue a refund.
I'll never sign up with Hearst again.
March 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
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Wish I hadn't signed up
Wish I hadn't signed up. The magazine subscription went through twice for one magazine and they have not refunded me. Email response is extremely slow. Have had to send multiple emails with the same evidence, and they appear very stupid. Difficult to cancel as website never loads. FFS, please don't buy cheap magazine subscriptions through this company. Can't even cancel through PayPal
March 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
Shady business. Just the legal side of a scam
Hearst's business model seems to be based on using well known titles to snare people into direct debit agreements that they then abuse. This might be slightly better if they were even capable of reliably delivering the magazines you pay for.
Horrible company
March 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
We requested further details via Trustpilot to help us provide further assistance however, we didn't receive a response. Please may we request that you contact us directly via email here: Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk to allow us to look into the matter further and help resolve this for you
Do not sign up for special price offers !
Please do not take up the offers of 3 months magazines for a special price. An auto renew payment was taken from my account two months after I signed up for this offer, without any warning & I had only received two of the three magazines so far. I rang customer service to cancel the subscription & was told I couldn't do that until 6 months time now or have a refund, even though I hadn't received any of the next batch of magazines. I was on the phone for over half an hour while the customer service agent recited the same thing over & over in parrot fashion to me. I was adamant that I didn't want any more magazines & wanted my money refunded. Finally, I asked to speak to her manager who authorised her to give me a refund. I will never deal with this company again !
March 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Reply from Hearst Magazines UK
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We have emailed you to address this matter and find a resolution, but unfortunately, we have yet to receive a response. Please reply to our email, or email us at Hearstdirect@subscription.co.uk in order for us to rectify the situation.
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