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Netflix Complaint - Do not purchase gift certificates from this company - Gift Certificate
Complaint
Do not purchase gift certificates from this company.
I purchased a gift certificate for three months of the 1 DVD (plus internet Watch Instantly) plan, at $8.99 per month. I emailed the gift certificate to my son, who attempted to use it but was blocked from redeeming the certificate without a credit card. He does not have a credit card, and therefore cannot redeem the certificate. I have requested a refund from Netflix, but they have denied me on the basis on a generic "No refunds" policy. As far as I am concerned, they have stolen my money, and they will steal yours as well under similar circumstances.
Netflix states two reasons for requiring a credit card at redemption:
1)"for your convenience," meaning for uninterrupted service at certificate expiry, and
2) as a guarantee against loss for lost/non-returned discs.
The purchase agreement for the gift certificate clearly states the purchaser of the certificate will be held financially liable in the event of a loss associated with the redemption and use of the gift card, so the guarantee required of the recipient is superfluous. In any case, the original purchaser of the gift certificate is never released of this liability.
Meaning, Netflix will not provide service in the case of gift certificate redemption without a double credit card guarantee against loss. This seems unethical and, in my humble option, illegal as well.
I purchased a gift certificate for three months of the 1 DVD (plus internet Watch Instantly) plan, at $8.99 per month. I emailed the gift certificate to my son, who attempted to use it but was blocked from redeeming the certificate without a credit card. He does not have a credit card, and therefore cannot redeem the certificate. I have requested a refund from Netflix, but they have denied me on the basis on a generic "No refunds" policy. As far as I am concerned, they have stolen my money, and they will steal yours as well under similar circumstances.
Netflix states two reasons for requiring a credit card at redemption:
1)"for your convenience," meaning for uninterrupted service at certificate expiry, and
2) as a guarantee against loss for lost/non-returned discs.
The purchase agreement for the gift certificate clearly states the purchaser of the certificate will be held financially liable in the event of a loss associated with the redemption and use of the gift card, so the guarantee required of the recipient is superfluous. In any case, the original purchaser of the gift certificate is never released of this liability.
Meaning, Netflix will not provide service in the case of gift certificate redemption without a double credit card guarantee against loss. This seems unethical and, in my humble option, illegal as well.
Comments:
Posted by Dryad on 2010-03-18:
Good review.
I received a Netflix gift certificate recently. I was pretty dismayed to find that I had to provide a credit card to get my 3 months of service.
I'm interested to see what will happen when it comes time to cancel. They say they will inform me 10 days before my "membership" is up, but I'm not buying it.
I received a Netflix gift certificate recently. I was pretty dismayed to find that I had to provide a credit card to get my 3 months of service.
I'm interested to see what will happen when it comes time to cancel. They say they will inform me 10 days before my "membership" is up, but I'm not buying it.
Posted by MDSasquatch on 2010-03-18:
Let me fill you in on a few other thing you may or may not know about Netflix. 1. You will not receive an e-mail before you are about to begin your post trial-offer billing. 2. When you first sign up for their free trial, you will get all the best movies right away. 3. After your trial ends and/or you watch too many movies, your account will be "throttled" and most of the new releases will convert to either "long wait" or "very long wait". 4. If you cancel, there is no refund. 5. Streaming videos are limited and don't expect any new releases. 6. Streaming to a PS3 requires a disc to be inserted each time. 7. A lot of the movies they send are rental versions, don't expect to see any of the bonus features.
I have already marked my calendar to cancel my Netflix account before my next bill. It was nice for the trial, but membership is frustrating and limited.
I have already marked my calendar to cancel my Netflix account before my next bill. It was nice for the trial, but membership is frustrating and limited.
Posted by Dryad on 2010-03-18:
Good to know, MDS, but this complaint wasn't about the free trial. It was a paid-for gift certificate.
Personally, I'm a Redbox fan, but I didn't want to tick off the MIL.
Personally, I'm a Redbox fan, but I didn't want to tick off the MIL.
Posted by skelly39 on 2010-03-18:
I had a gift certificate from Netflix and canceled no problem. I ended up signing up with them anyway, and you can cancel at any time for any reason or just pause your account. I never had a problem getting any movie. Sorry to hear about all your bad experiences.
Posted by MDSasquatch on 2010-03-18:
If you look all the way at the bottom of their web page, you'll see their terms of service link in what looks like a 7-point font. Here is part of what you'll find " In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we may utilize many different factors, including the number and type of DVDs you rent through our service, the membership plan you select, as well as other uses of our service by you. For example, if all other factors are the same, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service." THAT IS THROTTLING!
Posted by skelly39 on 2010-03-18:
MDSasquatch, I don't know if you're yelling in general or yelling at me, but I wasn't disputing what you said. I'm just surprised at the problems that are being reported since neither I nor anyone I know that subscribes has ever reported a problem with having to wait for a movie.
Posted by Stew on 2010-03-18:
Eh, Netflix is okay. I do applaud them for letting you cancel your subscription online. That's big league CS in my book.
As far as the Netflix gift certificates goes I think it's kind of a sleazy tactic to attach automatic billing/renewal after the gift period. It should be you have to 'opt-in' and not 'opt-out'. Also, the requirement for the gift recipient to provide a cc number is invasive for a 'gift'. Netflix gift certificates sound like a bad idea unless it's for somebody who is already a member.
As far as the Netflix gift certificates goes I think it's kind of a sleazy tactic to attach automatic billing/renewal after the gift period. It should be you have to 'opt-in' and not 'opt-out'. Also, the requirement for the gift recipient to provide a cc number is invasive for a 'gift'. Netflix gift certificates sound like a bad idea unless it's for somebody who is already a member.
Posted by MDSasquatch on 2010-03-18:
pardon if I seem to be yelling, it is not my intent. I have the following on my Netflix right now - 2012, Hurt Locker, Old Dogs, Amelia, Precious and Couples Retreat. All have "long wait" except for Hurt Locker, which has "very long wait"; I know these are all popular, but their status has not changed since my FREE TRIAL ended. My Sister-in-Law has a very similar queue, and is getting these movies delivered.
Posted by skelly39 on 2010-03-18:
MDS, I wasn't sure but thanks for setting me straight. Anyway, maybe I don't have the problems with getting movies because I generally don't get movies that most people want to watch, so I could see how I wouldn't have an issue but others would.
As far as the free trial, Stew, all businesses do that. Doesn't make it right or convenient at all, but they do it. Probably best for the consumer to keep track and cancel the day before the trial is up.
As far as the free trial, Stew, all businesses do that. Doesn't make it right or convenient at all, but they do it. Probably best for the consumer to keep track and cancel the day before the trial is up.
Posted by Dryad on 2010-03-18:
MDS, I sure hope you enjoy Couples Retreat. I'm glad I got that on my Netflix gift certificate, because it surely wasn't worth the money in my opinion.
Posted by MDSasquatch on 2010-03-18:
Thanks Dryad, but I have no intentions of watching it; I only added it because my wife wants to see it. I guess I should consider myself blessed that it will never arrive.....
Posted by laklisa on 2010-03-19:
I personally enjoyed Netflix when I had them-only reason I let the account go was I switched to Dish Network and didn't see the need to have both. There were a few times when I got annoyed due to movies I wanted had a long wait. I liked them better than Blockbuster due to I could get television shows on DVD and B.B. didn't have them.
Posted by David on 2012-01-19:
All the conditions of the gift certificate is spelled out in the terms of service and it is very clear so if you did not know about the gift that is your fault. Since I read the terms I did not gift Netflix gift certificates because I knew about the conditions of the gift. As far as netflix throttling your account I have never been throttled in 3 plus years I have been a member. I have always received the top dvds on my list. As a matter of fact I ordered the rise of the planet of the apes which just came out and it was sent out the same day it was available on netflix because I moved it to the number one position.
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