Fairfax Media

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Fairfax Media is an Australian media company and publisher of major newspapers and digital news brands whose subscription services cover titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review. Although the company merged into Nine Entertainment in 2018, the Fairfax name is still used in subscription and support channels for these publications.

Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
nineforbrands.com.au
Owned by Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited

About Fairfax Media

Fairfax Media is an Australian media and publishing group best known for titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, and a range of regional and lifestyle publications. While Fairfax Media merged with Nine Entertainment Co. in 2018, the Fairfax name still commonly appears in billing descriptors, subscription emails, and support channels for these newspapers and their digital products. Customers can purchase digital-only access, print delivery, or bundle subscriptions that combine website, app, and newspaper access, often on monthly or 4‑weekly billing cycles with introductory offers.

A Fairfax Media charge typically appears on your bank or card statement when you have an active subscription or have recently signed up for one of these news services. This can include ongoing digital subscriptions, home delivery of newspapers, combined print + digital packages, promotional or introductory offers that roll into standard pricing, or one-time purchases such as special reports or premium content. You may also see temporary authorization holds (often small test amounts) when you first subscribe or update your payment method; these usually disappear within a few days. Charges may be shown under descriptors such as “FAIRFAX MEDIA,” “SMH SUBSCRIPTION,” “THE AGE SUB,” “AFR SUBSCRIPTION,” or similar variations, and are most often billed in AUD on a recurring monthly or 4‑weekly basis.

If you’re unsure about a Fairfax Media charge, start by checking which Fairfax/Nine masthead you or someone in your household subscribes to—look for recent emails from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, or The Australian Financial Review confirming a subscription or renewal. Log in to your account on the relevant website (e.g., smh.com.au, theage.com.au, afr.com) and visit the subscription or account/billing section to review active plans, invoices, and payment history. For help, use the “Subscriber Support” or “Contact Us” links on these sites to reach customer service via web form, chat, or phone; have your full name, email address, and the last 4 digits of the card used ready. If the charge is unauthorized, Fairfax/Nine support can help locate and cancel the account; you can then follow up with your bank or card issuer to dispute any fraudulent transactions if needed.

Bank Statement Variations

2 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Fairfax Media.

  1. FAIRFAX SUBSCRIPTIONS PYRMONT AU
  2. FAIRFAX SUBSCRIPTIONS PYRMONT AUS

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I seeing a Fairfax Media charge on my statement if I subscribe to The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age?

Fairfax Media (now part of Nine Entertainment) still appears as the billing name for subscriptions to titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Even if you signed up directly on smh.com.au or theage.com.au, the payment processor may use “FAIRFAX MEDIA” or a similar descriptor like “SMH SUBSCRIPTION” or “THE AGE SUB” on your bank or card statement. Check your subscription details under your account on the relevant site to confirm the charge.

What are the typical subscription prices that might be billed as Fairfax Media?

Fairfax Media–branded subscriptions usually include digital-only access and print + digital bundles, commonly billed monthly or every 4 weeks. Standard digital access for titles like The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, or The Australian Financial Review often ranges from around AUD $20–$60 per month depending on the publication, bundle, and any current promotions, with introductory offers sometimes significantly lower for the first few months. The exact amount on your statement will correspond to the plan and billing frequency shown in your subscription account details.

Why did my Fairfax Media charge increase after a few months?

Many Fairfax/Nine newspaper subscriptions start with a discounted introductory period that automatically rolls over to the standard rate after a set time (for example, after 3 or 6 months). When that introductory offer ends, your plan continues at the regular price unless you change or cancel it, which can make the charge on your statement appear higher than before. You can see your current rate and any upcoming price changes by logging into your subscriber account on the relevant masthead’s website.

How do I cancel or pause my Fairfax Media newspaper or digital subscription?

To change, pause, or cancel a Fairfax Media–branded subscription, sign in to your account on the site you subscribed through (such as smh.com.au, theage.com.au, or afr.com) and go to the ‘My Account,’ ‘Subscriptions,’ or ‘Manage Subscription’ section. Some plans allow you to cancel or adjust your subscription online, while others may require you to contact subscriber support via web form, chat, or phone—links are available in the ‘Contact Us’ or ‘Subscriber Support’ area. If your subscription was purchased via the Apple App Store or Google Play, you must cancel it through your device’s subscription settings rather than directly with Fairfax/Nine.

How can I request a refund for a Fairfax Media charge I don’t recognize or no longer want?

If you believe you were incorrectly charged, first log into your subscription account to confirm whether the charge relates to an active plan or a recently renewed subscription. Then contact subscriber support for the relevant title (for example, via the help/contact page on smh.com.au, theage.com.au, or afr.com) and provide the charge date, amount, and the last 4 digits of your card so they can locate the payment. Refunds for unused periods, renewals, or mistaken charges are handled on a case‑by‑case basis and may be limited for subscriptions purchased through third‑party platforms like the App Store or Google Play, where their refund policies apply.

Why do I see a small or $0 Fairfax Media charge on my card?

A small or $0 Fairfax Media charge is usually an authorization hold used to verify that your card is valid when you start a new subscription, update payment details, or re‑activate an account. This is a standard banking practice and not an actual debit; the pending amount should disappear from your statement automatically within a few business days. If the small amount posts as a completed transaction and does not reverse, contact both Fairfax/Nine subscriber support and your bank for clarification.

How can I tell which Fairfax Media subscription a particular charge relates to if I have multiple accounts?

If you have more than one Fairfax-branded subscription (for example, SMH plus AFR), charges may appear similar on your statement. To identify them, compare the billing date and amount with the ‘Invoices,’ ‘Billing History,’ or ‘Payments’ section in each of your online accounts. You can also contact subscriber support and provide details of the charge; they can search by card information and tell you which subscription is associated with that payment.

What should I do if I suspect a Fairfax Media charge is fraudulent or not linked to any of my subscriptions?

First, check whether any family members or colleagues with access to your card or device may have started a subscription to a Fairfax title like The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, or The Australian Financial Review. If no one recognizes the charge, contact Fairfax/Nine subscriber support via the official website for any of these mastheads and ask them to look up the transaction; they can confirm if there is an account in your name or on your card and help cancel it if necessary. After that, notify your bank or card issuer to report the suspected unauthorized transaction and follow their process for blocking your card or disputing the charge.

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