How to Stop Magazine Mail and Offers

If it is an active subscription

Find the account or subscription number on the mailing label. Contact the publisher or subscription company and follow its cancellation instructions. Ask whether the cancellation stops future charges, future issues, or both.

The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to keep a copy of the cancellation request and notes that you do not have to pay for merchandise you never ordered. Watch your card or bank statements after canceling. If unauthorized charges continue, use your financial institution's dispute process.

If the magazine is free

Some trade, membership, alumni, or promotional publications are funded by an organization rather than the recipient. Contact the publisher listed in the masthead or on the mailing label. Ask it to remove the exact name, address, and subscriber number from print circulation.

If someone else enrolled you as a gift, the publisher may need the donor's information. You can still ask it to stop delivery to your address.

If it is only a magazine offer

A postcard or envelope inviting you to subscribe is marketing mail, not a subscription to cancel. Contact the sender for a postal-marketing opt-out. DMAchoice also covers magazine offers from participating marketers. Check its current registration terms and coverage before paying.

Use the label to avoid a dead end

Magazine fulfillment is often handled by a company other than the title printed on the cover. Keep the label until the issue is resolved. It can show the account number, expiration date, recipient spelling, and fulfillment source needed to find the correct record.

Junk Mail Magic can help with a sender-specific promotional-mail request. It is not a substitute for canceling a paid subscription or disputing an unauthorized charge. See the complete junk mail guide for other mail types.