Cancel Magshop: The Right Way

How to cancel your Magshop subscription and stop unwanted charges

What Magshop is and why cancellation timing matters

Magshop is a New Zealand online retailer that delivers print and digital magazine subscriptions directly to your home. You can purchase individual issues, prepaid multi-issue bundles, or set up auto-renewing subscriptions that charge your account on every billing cycle. The service handles orders, deliveries and subscription management across dozens of magazine titles in lifestyle, news, sport and entertainment categories.

Cancelling a Magshop subscription requires careful timing. If you don't act with precision, you risk receiving an unwanted delivery and being charged for it, even after you believe you've cancelled. At Tocancel, we've guided thousands of New Zealand consumers through this process safely. This guide walks you through your rights, cancellation methods and the exact steps you need to take to exit cleanly.

Common reasons to cancel Magshop

You might cancel because your reading habits have changed, your budget has tightened, or you discovered the subscription auto-renews when you expected it to end. Others cancel due to unreliable delivery or because they've switched to digital reading instead. Whatever your reason, you have legal rights that protect you, and Tocancel is here to help you understand and exercise them.

Why cancellation timing is critical

Magshop's cancellation policy does not stop in-transit deliveries. You may receive one final issue after you request cancellation and you will be charged for it. This means timing your cancellation around your next scheduled delivery date is essential. If you cancel mid-billing cycle, you typically remain subscribed until the end of that period.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

Before you cancel, you need to know the legal protections you already have. New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) and Fair Trading Act give you concrete leverage if Magshop refuses your cancellation or charges you unfairly.

What the consumer guarantees act protects you for

The Consumer Guarantees Act states that goods must be of acceptable quality, fit for purpose and delivered within a reasonable timeframe. If a magazine arrives damaged, faulty or fails to arrive at all, you can demand a refund, replacement or repair from Magshop, regardless of what their refund policy claims. Your legal right overrides their terms and conditions.

You have six weeks from the date you discover a problem (not six weeks from the delivery date) to make a claim. Save photos of any damaged issues and keep all delivery notifications as evidence. This documentation is your legal backup if a dispute arises.

Auto-renew rules and your right to cancel

Under the Fair Trading Act, Magshop must make auto-renewal terms crystal clear before you pay, provide you with easy cancellation methods and send you a reminder before each renewal charge. If Magshop fails on any of these obligations, you have grounds to dispute charges and demand a full refund. Your legal position is strong if you can show the company did not meet these requirements.

Save every email from Magshop, every payment confirmation and every reminder notice. These documents prove what terms you agreed to and whether Magshop honoured them. Tocancel recommends keeping these files for at least one year after cancellation.

Cancellation methods: choose the path that matches your subscription

Magshop offers different cancellation routes depending on how you subscribed. The method you use depends on whether you have an auto-renewing subscription, a prepaid bundle or a gift subscription.

Cancel auto-renewing subscriptions via phone or email

If you're paying Magshop directly via their website and your subscription renews automatically, you have two primary cancellation options. Both typically take effect at the end of your current billing period, not immediately upon request.

1. Call Magshop customer service on 0800 624 746 during business hours
   • Have your order number ready (you'll find this in your confirmation email or account)
   • Ask clearly to cancel your auto-renewing subscription
   • Request a cancellation confirmation number or reference
   • Ask the representative to confirm the exact end date of your subscription
2. Email Magshop at [email protected] with your cancellation request
   • Include your full name, order number and account email address
   • Write a clear statement: "I request to cancel my auto-renewing subscription effective immediately"
   • Ask Magshop to confirm the cancellation in writing and provide the end date
   • Send this email from the address registered to your account
3. Wait for confirmation within one business day
   • Magshop will send you a cancellation confirmation email
   • Check that the confirmation states your subscription ends at the conclusion of your current billing period
   • If the confirmation is unclear, reply asking for exact dates

Your subscription stops renewing after your current billing cycle ends. However, you may still receive one final delivery and be charged for it. Plan your cancellation at least one week before your next scheduled payment date if possible.

Cancel prepaid subscriptions

A prepaid subscription is a bundle where you've paid upfront for multiple issues (for example, six issues for a fixed price). These work differently from auto-renewing subscriptions.

1. Contact Magshop via phone (0800 624 746) or email ([email protected])
   • Explain that you have a prepaid subscription and wish to cancel
   • Provide your order number and the number of undelivered issues
2. Request a pro-rata refund for undelivered issues
   • If you paid $60 for 12 issues and only 4 have been delivered, you're entitled to a refund for the remaining 8
   • This is not a discretionary offer; it's your right under the Consumer Guarantees Act
3. Ask Magshop to process the refund within 14 days
   • Confirm the refund amount in writing before accepting
   • Check your bank account within 5-7 business days

For prepaid subscriptions, your cancellation takes effect immediately once Magshop processes it. You will not receive further deliveries and you will not be charged again.

Cancel gift subscriptions

If someone gave you a Magshop gift subscription, cancellation depends on whether it auto-renews after the gift period ends. Check your confirmation email to see if the subscription is set to renew automatically. If it is, follow the auto-renew cancellation steps above. If it's not, the subscription will simply expire once the gift period concludes.

Pricing and what you'll be charged before cancellation

Understanding Magshop's pricing structure helps you time your cancellation correctly and predict your final bill.

You will be charged for your current billing period even if you cancel mid-cycle. Magshop does not offer pro-rata refunds for auto-renewing subscriptions cancelled partway through a month or quarter.

What happens after you cancel

Knowing what to expect after cancellation helps you stay vigilant and catch any errors Magshop makes.

Check for unexpected charges

After you cancel, monitor your bank account or credit card statement for 6-8 weeks. Despite your cancellation request, Magshop may accidentally charge you again if their system processes a renewal before the cancellation takes effect. If you spot an unexpected charge, contact your bank immediately to request a chargeback and then follow up with Magshop in writing.

Receive your final delivery

You may receive one final issue in the post after your cancellation request is confirmed. This is standard because Magshop's warehouse and postal system operate on different timelines. You will be charged for this final issue unless you cancel more than two weeks before your next scheduled delivery.

Confirm your subscription has ended

Log into your Magshop account (if you still have access) and check that the subscription is no longer listed as active. If it still shows as active after two weeks, contact Magshop again and ask for clarification. Take a screenshot as proof.

How to request a refund if Magshop fails to cancel properly

If Magshop ignores your cancellation request or charges you after you've cancelled, you have the right to demand a refund. Here's how to escalate.

Step one: send a formal written demand

Write to Magshop's registered office address (see the address section below) or email [email protected] with a formal letter stating the following:

• Your full name and account email address
• Your order number and subscription type
• The date you requested cancellation and how (phone or email)
• Any confirmation number Magshop provided
• Details of any unexpected charges (date, amount and account)
• A clear demand: "I request a refund of NZ$[amount] within 14 days"
• Your deadline: "If I do not receive this refund by [date 14 days away], I will escalate this matter to the Commerce Commission"

Keep a copy of this letter. This formal demand triggers a legal obligation for Magshop to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Step two: escalate to the commerce commission

If Magshop does not refund you within 14 days, file a complaint with the Commerce Commission (the government agency that enforces consumer law in New Zealand). You can lodge your complaint online at comcom.govt.nz. Tocancel strongly recommends gathering all evidence before filing: your cancellation request, confirmation email, bank statements showing the charge and any written correspondence with Magshop.

Step three: dispute the charge with your bank

Contact your bank or credit card company and request a chargeback or dispute. Explain that you cancelled your subscription and Magshop charged you without authority. Your bank can reverse the transaction if they agree you have a valid claim. This process typically takes 5-10 business days.

You do not need to choose between a Commerce Commission complaint and a bank chargeback; you can pursue both simultaneously. However, once your bank reverses a charge, notify the Commerce Commission so they have the full picture.

Common mistakes that leave you still paying

Many people try to cancel Magshop only to find themselves still charged weeks later. Knowing these pitfalls will help you avoid them.

Mistake one: thinking cancellation takes effect immediately

Your Magshop subscription does not stop immediately when you request cancellation. It stops at the end of your current billing period (month or quarter). If you cancel on day 5 of a 30-day cycle, you will still be charged the full amount on day 30. Plan your cancellation to align with your billing date if you want to minimise your final charge.

Mistake two: cancelling online and assuming it's done

Magshop does not have a one-click cancellation button on their website. You must phone or email. Many customers assume they've cancelled when they've only updated their payment method or paused their subscription temporarily. Always request written confirmation. Tocancel has seen dozens of cases where customers thought they'd cancelled but Magshop never received the request.

Mistake three: failing to account for in-transit deliveries

Magshop's postal delivery and order processing systems work independently. An issue may be in the post when you cancel and will still arrive at your address. You will be charged for it. If this happens, treat it as an unwanted charge and request a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act, citing that you cancelled before the issue was sent to you.

Mistake four: not saving proof of cancellation

If Magshop later claims you never cancelled, you need evidence. Always request a cancellation confirmation number by phone or ask Magshop to reply to your cancellation email confirming receipt. Without proof, Magshop can deny they received your request and you'll struggle to recover unwanted charges. Screenshot every email and save the confirmation number.

Should you keep or cancel Magshop

Deciding whether to cancel depends on your reading habits, budget and subscription terms.

If you decide to cancel, Tocancel recommends doing so immediately rather than delaying. The sooner you cancel, the fewer charges you'll face before your subscription truly ends.

Sending your cancellation by post

If you prefer to cancel in writing or need a formal record, you can send your cancellation request by post to Magshop's registered address. Post is slower than phone or email but creates an undeniable paper trail.

Magshop's mailing address for cancellations

Send your cancellation letter to:

Magshop Limited
Magshop
Private Bag 102 004
North Shore Mail Centre
Auckland 0745
New Zealand

Include the following in your letter:

• Your full name and account email address
• Your order number (from your confirmation email or account)
• The date you wish the subscription to end
• A clear statement: "I request immediate cancellation of my subscription"
• Your contact phone number and email

Send this letter via registered post so you have a tracking number. Keep your receipt and a photocopy of the letter. Magshop should acknowledge receipt within 5 business days and confirm your cancellation within 10 business days. If they don't, use your postal receipt as proof you sent the request on time.

Your next steps: take action today

You now have the knowledge and legal backing to cancel your Magshop subscription with confidence. Delay only increases the risk of unwanted charges and frustration. Choose your cancellation method (phone, email or post), gather your order number and contact Magshop today.

Write down the date you cancel, save any confirmation reference number and monitor your bank account for the next six weeks. If an unexpected charge appears, contact your bank immediately and follow up with Magshop in writing. Tocancel has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers cancel subscriptions cleanly and recover unwanted charges; you now have the tools to do the same. Visit Tocancel.com for templates, sample letters and step-by-step guides tailored to your situation.