Frequently Asked Questions
about Arkansas Catholic subscriptions

How often does the newspaper come out?

We publish weekly except for scheduled breaks based on major holidays or to allow time for maintenance and major projects. In 2010, breaks fall on the first Saturday (issue date) in January, June, July, August and September, and the last Saturday in December. A notice is published in the issue before each break.

How long does it take my new subscription order (address change, renewal) to be processed?

During the first three months of the year, when several thousand subscriptions come up for renewal at the same time, it can take up to four weeks for an order, renewal or change to be received, entered and take effect. The rest of the year, we normally process within two weeks after receiving your order or request.

How can I tell when my subscription is going to expire?

Your mailing label shows the date your current subscription will end. At the far right end of the line that starts with your name, your last issue date is printed as month/day/year.

I just renewed, but the expiration date on my mailing label still shows I’m about to expire. Why is my expiration date wrong?

Your old expiration date will continue showing on your label until your original subscription expires. Then your renewal will take over, and the new expiration date will appear on your mailing label.

When is my paper supposed to arrive each week?

Your paper should arrive by Saturday, on the actual issue date. Because we mail on Wednesday, many people get their paper earlier. If your paper is consistently arriving later than Saturday, the post office has a delivery problem and we’d like to know about it.

Do I need a special form to order a subscription for myself or as a gift?

No special form is needed. Just send us a check for the subscription amount with a note telling us where you’d like us to send your paper. If the subscription is a gift, please tell us that, too. We’ll send the recipient a nice card telling them of your thoughtfulness.

Can I charge my new subscription or renewal to a credit card?

Sorry, we’re not set up to handle credit card charges at this time.

I’m going to be out of town for a month or longer. Can I stop the paper temporarily? Can I have the paper sent to my out-of-town address temporarily?

Either way, as you prefer. Please let us know at least two weeks before the change. Tell us (by phone, letter, or using the customer service form on the subscriptions page) your name, current address, temporary address if any, when to change and when to change back to your regular address.

How do I make a donation to help someone get the paper who can’t afford it?

Just send us a check with a note telling us it’s a donation. For convenience, your subscription renewal notice includes a line you can check off and fill in the amount of your donation, so you can write just one check both for your renewal and donation.

How does someone get a free subscription who can’t afford it?

Generous donations from subscribers and others make it possible to send the paper to many vowed religious, elderly or disabled Catholics who otherwise couldn’t afford a subscription. We will enter a one-year subscription at no charge when we become aware of someone in need who wants to receive the paper.

My family member died. How do I stop their paper?

You may contact us with the deceased person’s name and address (by phone, letter, or using the customer service form on the subscriptions page) to tell us to cancel the subscription. If you wish, you may instead transfer the rest of the subscription to someone else in the deceased subscriber’s family. Just let us know.

When will you send me a renewal notice that my subscription is about to expire?

Eight weeks before your last issue, we’ll send you a “Subscription Billing” renewal postcard. If we haven’t received your renewal four weeks later, we’ll send you a reminder letter. Since it can take up to four weeks to receive and process your renewal, we hope you’ll respond promptly so you don’t miss any issues.

Didn’t find the answer you need? Please return to the main subscriptions page and send your question using the electronic customer service form to get a prompt reply. Or call (501) 664-0125 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and speak to a live person.