Hearst Magazines UK44 reviews
This score is based on 44 genuine reviews submitted via BritainReviews since 2018.
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Find companies you have experience with and write reviews about them! Your reviews contribute to a more transparent market and improve the reliability of companies.A bit rough around the edges
the service itself is okay, but customer care needs work; I’d be cautious next time.
Unexpected renewal, reasonable delivery
copies dropped through the door regularly, no damage, nothing dramatic. Then a random charge appeared on my card and that’s where things went sideways. My online account didn’t show the subscription at all, no reminders, no renewal notice in my inbox — nothing that would suggest an imminent payment. I phoned customer service and after a long call was told it was an automatic renewal and that they wouldn’t issue a refund. Their line was basically: it’s in the small print. Fine, maybe it is, but there was zero transparency on renewals and the cancellation window is awkwardly long, so I had no practical way to see or cancel it. I mentioned the 14‑day cooling off rightfully allowed under UK rules and again got nowhere. To be clear, the product — the magazines — continue to be fine and delivery is reliable, but the handling of billing and the attitude from support were disappointing, slow and not particularly helpful. It’s not all bad, but it’s also not great. If you value straightforward billing and responsive service, take that into account. I’m left trying to decide whether to keep the subscription or cut ties because of how the refund request was handled.
Good box, poor support
Not impressed — decent box but customer service lets it down. Bought a beauty box on 22 July; one item was due to expire next month. I emailed three times and got no reply. If you buy, check dates and don't expect quick answers. Bit annoying.
Doorstep disappointment
Doorstep coffee, I first saw Elle at a mate's — lovely glossy pages; my copies often turn up late or not at all, which is annoying.
Breakfast surprise
Picked this up as a one-off and use it for weekend recipes and quick reads over tea. Delivery was prompt and as described, but customer service was messy — I emailed to cancel and then £54.99 was taken the next day. A bit annoying, but the mag is handy.
Bit of a renewal mess
Not great service but sorted — subscription renewed without warning, I couldn't set up an account to cancel online so I phoned. A bit of faffing but they refunded me, so I'm glad. I miss the commute reading though.
Relief after the hassle
I first saw the site via a mate and, silly me, placed three orders by mistake. Two were cancelled after a few days and the third was charged with no word. After several follow-ups they finally agreed a refund — only then did I feel it was actually sorted, slowly.
Nearly missed it but sorted
Spotted this on a mate’s feed and signed up as a bit of a test — first time I’d tried their subscription. Renewal sneaked in without a reminder, but customer service sorted a partial refund and delivery of missing issues quickly, so I’m glad it worked out in the end, really.
Tea, sofa and a subscription hiccup
I've been happily flipping through Prima with a cuppa on the sofa — the paper feels nice, recipes actually useful for weeknight meals. Bit annoyed I emailed to cancel the trial and still got charged, replies were slow, but the content itself is good.
Nearly didn't subscribe
Halfway through the trial I was twitchy—read a few horror stories, thought they'd take my money and vanish. Turns out I worried for nothing. Emails were answered, cancelling was simple when I wanted to, and a helpful agent even sorted a billing quirk. Proper surprised, actually. I've had worse with other publishers, so this felt refreshing.
Quiet arrival
Halfway through unpacking the last box, the Autumn special landed — exactly the moment I needed a bit of calm. I'd ordered it during a messy house move and was getting annoyed after two weeks with no sign and long phone queues. They did eventually reply by email and even included a small extra insert, which was a pleasant surprise.
Finally sorted, sort of
I rang in February to cancel and was told it was done — seemed fine at first, I thought job done. Then August came and they tried to take £34.99. I complained, got an auto-reply (said two working days) and heard nothing. After a follow-up I finally got a refund and an apology — not ideal, clunky, but at least sorted.
Nearly lost faith, then chuffed
Started off convinced I'd been scammed — waited over a week, messaged them, nothing. Then, weirdly, the box turned up and I was actually really chuffed. The bits are great for my weekday quick pamper and lazy Sunday treats; I use the face balm every morning now. Still annoyed at the poor replies, but in the moment it landed I knew it was properly worth it.
Subscription slog
I thought cancelling by email would be straightforward but no — they kept taking quarterly payments for months. Tried to be patient, emailed several times, still billed. The worst bit was the back-and-forth trying to get it sorted; felt like I was shouting into a void. I'm relieved my bank finally blocked them, otherwise I'd still be out of pocket. Compared to other firms this was clumsy and frustrating.
Rough ride with the auto-renewal
I remember checking my bank app and thinking that’s odd — the renewal had gone through before the year was up. I’d signed up because I needed the online exercises for a bad back, so I didn’t want to lose access. The tiny bit of wording about automatic renewal is buried in the confirmation email and isn’t obvious at all. It says you can cancel in your account, but that option simply doesn’t work for me. They took the renewal a few weeks early and insisted there’d be no refund. Bit gutted and a bit annoyed at how sneaky it felt. I spoke to customer support — polite, but useless, really.
Little trap, big bill
There I was, halfway through making my porridge, trying to sort the subscription I’d signed up to — and it turned into a right faff. I tried to cancel online and couldn't even log in, asked for a password reset and the email never turned up, not once, not twice, despite trying a few times. Rang the helpline and just got silence; left ringing and then nothing. Annoyingly, their three-month deal rolled into another six months and I’m out £75. I actually used the service for my commute podcasts and a few recipes, so yes I liked it, but the clumsy delivery of emails and non-existent support soured it.
Sticky renewal, cushy pages
My bank pinged and I thought, oh, what now? A charge for another year had gone through. I'd logged in a few weeks earlier and it said renewal in January, so I relaxed. No reminder arrived. Then, suddenly, money gone. It stings because their promo deals were so much cheaper when I looked last time. Tried to cancel straight away — even during what I assumed was a 14‑day cooling‑off — but that didn't work. Other firms at least give a heads up. Still, the mags themselves are lovely. Nice weight to the paper, readable pieces, and the person I gifted it to actually savours each issue. So annoyed about the billing, but happy the gift gets used.
Three weeks missing, one patronising reply
45, clutching a tea and this subscription that keeps me sane on the commute and helps when my back's playing up (can't stare at screens), so I really relied on it. Then three weeks went missing. I emailed, got slow, boilerplate replies that clearly hadn't read my message — same old, same old — felt a bit like talking to a robot. They didn't warn me the subscription was expiring and my renewal attempt came back as a failed order email. In the end the only semi-helpful thing was being told I could buy the missing issues from a newsagent. Well, thanks, I suppose; relieved to have a workaround, but also a bit patronised, as if I couldn't have thought of that. Happy it wasn't totally hopeless, but honestly I expected better for a paid sub.
Quietly cancelled, still charged
I noticed two direct debit payments hit my account and thought that odd. I had tried to cancel the next payment via the website, which is fiddly and unclear, and then got an automated note saying they’d "get back to me". After that both subscriptions were cancelled straight away, even though recent payments had already gone out. No magazines arrived for the remaining period. I couldn’t find a good way to speak to anyone. Delivery stopped without explanation. Customer service was slow and vague. It felt like sharp practice. My advice — take screenshots, read the small print and don’t leave subscriptions on direct debit if you don’t want surprises. If they'd been clearer I might have stayed. Would not recommend for those who value straightforward billing.
Bit of a faff with the renewal
I’d taken out a Good Housekeeping subscription while I was home recovering from a minor op — wanted something easy to flick through, nothing fancy. It arrived fine, so that part was okay. Trouble started when I noticed a charge that was more than double the “discounted” price I’d signed up for. I’ll admit I must have missed the auto-renew bit when I signed up, but what irritated me was they didn’t bother to warn me the payment was coming out. I spent ages emailing back and forth (a bit tedious when you’re meant to be resting) and, after pestering them, they did eventually issue a full refund which was a pleasant surprise. Still, that refund should’ve been the first response — felt a bit like needless hoops. If you get this, read the small print and keep an eye on your account.
About Hearst Magazines UK
Hearst Magazines UK, a subsidiary of the American media conglomerate Hearst Corporation, is a prominent British publishing company. Established in 1972, it produces and distributes a wide range of magazines and digital content across various genres, including fashion, lifestyle, health, and entertainment. Some of its notable publications include "Cosmopolitan," "Esquire," "Harper's Bazaar," and "Good Housekeeping." The company leverages its extensive portfolio to cater to diverse audiences, maintaining a strong presence both in print and online media. Its commitment to quality journalism and innovative content has solidified Hearst Magazines UK's position as a leading player in the British media landscape.
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Last update: May 2026
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Best magazine
I love to read a magazine and there are lots of option that i got but Hearst magazines uk is the best that i got. also, they offer really good subjects in their magazines which ... Read onBy: Hiya