Immediate Media Avis 

What a complete disaster buying a subscription for my Grandson has been. The parent company has been unresponsive to my request to correct the name and address of the subscription, Having purchased online I was less than confident their 'one size fits all' information fields would be sufficient so called the number on their site to speak with a gentleman in the far East who was unable to comprehend spoken English to an effective level. I then dealt, via 'help' Chanel on their site with a Lady in South Africa who reassured me I had 'changed the adress' - when I had wanted to change Name and Address. The first copy arrived at my home address with two typo errors. I wrote to the parent company in Hammersmith London to get the second copy also to my Home address - with two typographical errors. Called the offices in London only to find number online was incorrect but was given yet another runner. FINALLY ( I hope) have spoken with a gentleman in South Africa who seemed highly competent who has reassured me he has fixed the problem.
The Parent Company are a complete disaster to deal with having ( nor wanting it would seem) any direct contact channels with its customers - a business model thats bound to fail.

My wife was charged twice for her Gardeners’ World online subscription last October. After three months of delays and not responding to correspondence, Immediate Media told her that a refund had finally been issued — but it appeared on our credit card as yet another debit.

Early renewal with no cancellation rights - I subscribed on 03/09/25 for 5 months with the ad saying could cancel before auto renewal. On 11/01/26 I had an email saying auto renewal was due (just over 4 months after subscription started), Phoned to cancel on the next working day to be told "too late" its auto renewed - I hadnt even received the last edition which only arrived on 21/01/26. Phone lines were all not working unless you wanted to take up a new subscription which was the only way I got to speak to somebody. I was promised a call back from a manager - despite several more calls and emails, nothing has been heard! Do not deal with this company. Sadly, because they (very cleverly) dont state when they are going to auto renew, you can't dispute the auto renewal payment. Very sharp practice.
05/02 - 1 week after I posted my Trustpilot review I finally got a response and an apology. After a further week the refund has now been processed. I am glad this was sorted but I would still urge caution for anybody subscribing through a magazine with Immediate Media. It should not be so hard to get a refund in genuine circumstances.

Initial 1 year subscription of £95 for Radio Times taken out on 6th November. No editions received. Rang again on 15th December and told subscription had been cancelled. No explanation given but was told money would be refunded without 2 weeks. Took out 2nd subscription on 15th December for 6 months. No Radio Times received, no money refunded for either subscription. 6 phone calls later I have been assured that both subscriptions have been cancelled and money will be refunded in 5 working days. I have also now received emails to that affect. We will see!

Truly dreadful 'service'. Tried to buy a subscription to Good Food as advertised is the current issue. After several attempts where I kept getting a 'try again later' message I eventually appeared to subscribe. However no confirmation email and checking my credit card statement they'd taken payment twice. On the GF site any messages sent requesting help are ignored. The phone number reads Ashford but clearly is an Indian call centre so really challenging to hear and understand. A refund was given and apparently the confirmation email should be coming through. Today I was charged a third time. Another call, this time they hung up on me when I asked why this was happening and then told it takes a few days for confirmation emails to come through?? Immediate Media clearly don't care and are tarnishing a great magazine. I've no idea when my subscription will start and sceptical about the offer gift arriving too. Very tempted to cancel and just buy the magazine as and when.....more expensive but at least I know where I stand.

Shocking ! Do not touch took out good food subscription for them to then take fund again 3 times. Called head office who said oh we are getting numerous of these issues. So known and ignored. Can’t believe BBC WANTto be associated with this company

After 6 emails to Immediate Media complaining that I have not received the magazines I have paid for, I am no longer receiving even a holding reply and my emails now go into a complete black hole. The original complaint was early November 2025. It is a shame as I do like Olive magazine but I will not in future subscribe to any Immediate Media publications.

Awful service, lots of problems with her Radio Times late and no delivery. My step mum since passed away after just paying a new 6 monthly subscription. I was initially told her subscription would run out at the end of the 6 months. (shes been a loyal customer for many years).When I complained and asked that my query be escalated it was agreed to make a refund. Im still receiving Radio times at my step mums and no refund has arrived despite chasing a further three times. Very poor customer service at this awful time. I will never take on a magazine subscription again

2 1/2 months and one death later I find Immediate Media has an appalling reputation on Trustpilot. Well deserved. Under Lasting Power of Attorney last October I discovered that they were charging my father £129 per 6 months for Radio Times by direct debit when the current price was £59. I tried to raise this through their customer service organisation (South Africa I read?) and had a succession of template responses from name after name after name but no recognition that ripping off OAPs is not all right. With his death I am awaiting a partial refund but if you have elderly relatives taking Radio Times I would suggest check what they are paying and look at the current rates available - these people are gouging the non-tech-competent elderly who trust the Radio Times because they have had it all their life.

Took my money after I had cancelled my subscription and despite numerours phone calls - apparently to south Africa (WHY????) and emails I have still to receive a refund.
Please avoid this rip-off company!!!

utter disgraceful company.avoid at all costs...took payment B4 had time to cancel was my mistake was end of trial said they would refund me...but when request to refund was put in and accepted, they charged me again and this time they wouldn't refund saying it's to late....so they took £59 for 6 months radio times I don't want ....and customer service was very arrogant ....anybody give me advice on this......

Tried to renew match of the day. Struggled on line. I therefore called them. They said I could have 12 months no commitment deal for just £44. Good deal, so gave my credit details. But they actually signed me up to a 6 month recurring contract at £44.99 per month. Called 6 times, and they just ignore everything. Reported as fraud to my bank and currently being dealt with by my bank. Absolutely dreadful customer service, and fraudulently used my credit card details.

Would give less than one star if I could. Avoid at all costs. Terrible company. Charged me twice - two different amounts - for a BBC History magazine subscription. They refuse to reply to emails and if you call are just put on hold until you lose the will to live. Will only refund if I give my bank details....no chance. Seriously think this is a scam. Am having to go through my bank for a refund. AVOID!!

Don’t give them any of your money! I paid for a years subscription for a magazine as a gift for my mum, I’ve done this for the past 3 years, only this year did immediate media take over this subscription, despite me paying for this, we have no access to it, I’ve been told it’s a fault on the system however 3 months later and after providing proof I paid, still no subscription or refund. I just have sent close to 30 emails, many without a response and been on the phone for hours, told I would get a refund in 7 days, 2 weeks later still no response or refund. This company is a massive con

I had a very troubling experience with Immediate Media Company Limited (the subscription administrator for BBC Gardeners’ World magazine). They charged my credit card more than once and refund timings were unclear and inconsistent, causing confusion and financial inconvenience. Their billing practices felt misleading — charging a renewal only to refund days later — which resulted in having to cancel and destroy my credit card to prevent further unauthorised charges.
Despite multiple attempts to get clarity from customer service, the communication was slow and left me unsure whether refunds were processed correctly. The lack of transparency and apparent billing errors caused unnecessary stress and disruption.
I strongly warn others to be cautious when subscribing with this company — make sure you monitor your statements closely, and be aware their subscription system and refund handling appear to have significant issues.

Last Friday tried to renew a gift subscription for Olive magazine. Website 'renew' just wanted to start a new account. Phoned the subscription number . A Kent number.
Goes to a call centre in South Africa. Polite but hopeless agents. Was put on hold more times than info sub gathering.They took all details including card details.
Then put on permanent hold.
Used second phone to call same number. Another agent appeared to have account details then said she was going home for the weekend and that ended both calls. An hours call.
There is no email address and there has been no contact since.
I asked the agents for email confirmation. Both promised.Tried phone at weekend. 'No agents available'
Still dont know what is happening.
London office phoned but doesn't seem to deal with magazine subscriptions!. No help.Terrible service.
Can't face another hour.
Bank contacted but need to wait for card charge.

Awful service. I cancelled my Olive magazine subscription ahead of my 6 month renewal to say I did not want to continue. They still charged me, ignored all my emails and say there is no trace of payment despite it being taken out of my bank account. Have reported to trading standards. Avoid this company!

I wish that I had looked at the reviews before I subscribed. This company is terrible. I subscribed, had confirmation, but no BBC History magazine appeared. Several calls made and promises that a Manager would call me back - nothing. "The system" had cancelled my subscription but of course kept my money. 10 days to get money back but told by the call handler that it would probably be longer!!!!

If there was a lower score it would be a minus.
I've been trying to subscribe to BBC History since beginning of October. Nothing even after chasing emails. I have now received 5 confirmation emails of subscription-different details each time. I've tried 3 different phone numbers and haven't spoken to anyone as yet. If only I'd read the reviews first. I am wondering if this is a scam.

Taken my money but not delivered! I want an immediate refund - do not sign up for a subscription folks!