The Economist offers digital subscriptions that provide full access to their wide range of content, including weekly curated analysis, daily global news updates, narrated stories, podcasts, and specialist reports. Subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis, for example, $24.90 every 4 weeks, and can be auto-renewed so readers don't miss out on any content. They also offer longer subscription terms such as annual plans and special discounted rates for students. Customers might see charges from The Economist because they are paying for ongoing access to these news and analysis services.
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The cancellation process appears intentionally difficult, requiring users to go through customer service interactions and complicated steps. Users report frustration with delays, difficulty having their accounts located, and sometimes needing to resort to third-party payment service interventions like PayPal to effectively cancel subscription.
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How to Cancel The Economist: Step by Step
If you purchased through economist.com:
- Visit https://myaccount.economist.com and log in to your account using your registered email and password.
- Once logged in, navigate to the section marked My Subscription.
- Click on the button labeled Manage subscription.
- Select the option to Cancel Subscription.
- Follow any on-screen instructions to confirm the cancellation.
- You may receive a confirmation email once the cancellation process is complete.

Tips & Tricks for Canceling The Economist
- Call the subscription phone number directly rather than using live chat, as calls are usually more effective.
- If using live chat, be patient and engage in the small talk they require; firmly refuse all offers to keep the subscription.
- Document every cancellation attempt when dealing with customer service for potential disputes.
- Dispute charges with your credit card company if cancellation is unsuccessful, providing evidence of your attempts.
- Consider using a virtual card or canceling the credit card linked to the subscription to prevent future charges.
- Deactivate auto-debit authorization in PayPal if subscribed through PayPal to avoid dealing with customer service.
- Some users have resorted to marking the subscription as fraud with their bank after long unsuccessful cancellation attempts.
- Timing matters: Letting the subscription lapse by not updating payment info can lead to automatic cancellation.
- Email customer support directly at supportteam@economist.com to escalate if regular channels fail.
- Brace for long wait times and prepare for redirection loops designed to wear you down.
- Argue effectively for maintaining your current subscription rate if price hikes are the cancellation reason; this can sometimes yield a better deal.
The Economist Customer Service Info
If you need assistance, here's how you can get in touch with The Economist's support team.
Cancel The Economist Script
Script

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Dear Economist Customer Service,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to formally request the cancellation of my subscription. Due to personal changes in my financial situation, I am unable to continue with my current membership. I appreciate the content and service provided, and this decision is not a reflection of the quality offered.
Please confirm the cancellation at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
Frequently Asked Questions
The Economist allows you to cancel your subscription at any time. EU residents can cancel within the first 14 days to get a refund for any undelivered print or unpublished digital content; cancellations after 14 days or by non-EU residents do not receive refunds for unused portions. Additionally, cancelling within the first 60 days means you won't receive any awarded air miles or points.
To cancel your subscription to The Economist, you typically need to log in to your account, which requires a password. However, if you don't remember your password, you can reset it using the 'Forgot password' option on the login page. If you're unable to access your registered email for password reset, you can alternatively call the subscription center or email their support with your account details to cancel. This means while a password is generally needed for self-service cancellation online, there are support options available if you can't log in.
You can reset your password here: https://myaccount.economist.com/login?resetPassword
- Unaware of automatic renewal policies or did not knowingly agree to waive refund rights.
- Want refunds for the remaining value of subscriptions after canceling early.
- Subscriptions charged despite cancellation requests or multiple charges after cancellation attempts.
- Difficulty or failure to cancel subscriptions through customer service or chat.
- Requests for refunds when payments were made on cancelled or closed card accounts.
- Receiving duplicate subscriptions after renewal, perceived as deceptive and unfair practice.
- Charging for subscriptions despite non-delivery or failure to fulfill service.
- Signed up for trials but were charged after cancellation within trial periods without intention to continue.
- Refusal or failure by The Economist to provide refunds after cancelled subscriptions.
- Poor or unresponsive customer service regarding refunds and cancellations.
- Examples include cancellations requested before automatic renewal but no refund issued, charges after cardholder deceased without refund, duplicate charges due to renewal creating new subscriptions, charges without delivery, unexpected multiple charges after free preview, and charges after cancelling trial subscriptions.
The Economist subscription can generally be canceled at any time, but if you purchased it directly from The Economist Group, the subscription is non-cancellable and non-refundable unless otherwise stated. You have the right to cancel the renewal at any time before the renewal date, and the subscription will then end at the current term's renewal date with no further charges. Be aware that some subscriptions bought before November 7, 2024, or through third-party providers, have different cancellation rules, including no refunds from The Economist if purchased via external sales representatives or app providers. Also, auto-renewal subscriptions automatically renew at prevailing rates unless canceled prior to renewal, and payment info may be updated automatically. These points are important to note as they can be seen as lock-in features or restrictions on immediate cancellation or refund.
Before cancelling your subscription to The Economist, it's important to know that once your subscription is cancelled, your access to all the Economist content immediately ceases. There are no refunds for any period before cancellation unless you are within the statutory cancellation period (within the first 14 days in the UK/EU) where a refund minus any services provided is possible. If you subscribed through a third-party app provider, you must cancel through them as The Economist Group does not provide refunds or handle cancellations for those. Also, unpaid fees can result in termination or suspension of access to content.
- Full name associated with the subscription
- Billing address or delivery address (as on the account)
- Customer reference number (CRN, found on print magazine label, confirmation email, or account correspondence)
- Email address connected to the subscription
- Phone number (if submitted with account)
- Request to cancel (explicit statement that you wish to cancel the subscription or membership)
- Subscription details (type, such as print, digital, or both)
- Reason for cancellation (optional but sometimes requested)
- Proof of authority (if you are cancelling on behalf of someone else, e.g. documentation for estate or power of attorney in the case of a deceased or incapacitated subscriber)
- Any relevant refund preference (if eligible and desired)
We've actually written a step by step guide on how to get a refund from The Economist. Check it out!
The Easiest Way to Cancel The Economist
If you’re frustrated trying to cancel your subscription, membership, or bill from The Economist—or if you didn’t even realize you were being charged—Chargeback can help. Chargeback is a personal subscription manager that automatically detects hidden, recurring charges like Netflix, Hulu, and hundreds of others. With one click, we can cancel unwanted subscriptions, flag suspicious billing, and even initiate refund requests on your behalf. No more waiting on hold or navigating confusing help pages. Just connect your bank or email account, and we’ll take care of the rest.
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