Beware LoveFilm - charging whilst on 'free' trial

mbriody

I signed up for a 'free' trial on Sunday and my card was debitted by £12.99 on Tuesday this week.

Their email response states that I am not eligble for a free trial as my household has had one in the past. Okay but I was not informed of this or given the opportunity to back out.

To back this up their welcome email says:

"MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

Tariff: 2 month unlimited gift
Login email: xxxxx@yahoo.com

We're sure you'll want to stay with us after the end of your gift subscription period, but if you decide to cancel, and return all your discs before your first billing date, there will be no charge for our service. "

and my account status says:

"Your membership level
2 month unlimited gift"

Surely for them to charge me without authority is fraud?

I am awaiting a reply to my email pointing the above out. In the meantime I'd advise you stear clear.

jammiev

i had a problem when siging up also but they never charged me!
when i went to my wish list i had to click on a button to activate because there was a problem, but b4 i clicked i read the agreement and it said to activate i would be charged, so i rang them up and cancelled, then signed up using a friends address with my wifes cc!

are you sure u never activated the wish list by mistake!

jamie

mbriody

Absolutely certain.

mousegreatest388

I had the same problem with Lovefilm.
They started charging me even though the website allowed the free trial.

Lovefilm didn't care and wouldn't refund my money. I don't think they have ever refunded any money to anyone!

I cancelled immediately and contacted my credit card company.
They sent me a form to claim the money back and I explained that i had signed up for the free trial and sent a copy of the cancellation email and some screen prints and they refunded the money.

You should do the same.

Sillychuckie

Lovefilm handle previous trials in 2 ways.
When they 'think' you have had a trial before, you get a warning email and your account is not activated. You must activate it (and then get charged).
When they are 'sure' you have had a free trial, they send you an email saying "Cancel within 30 mins, or pay".
However, they only charge the day afterwards. If you cancel that day, they delay payment for 3 days giving you a chance to return any dvds that might have been sent.
Also, if you ask them, they'll give you 2 months free if you hang on and accept the charge.

stuzhunter

If you've done the screen select free trial..you'll be charged fully by Lovefilm..Try using a different (work) address & credit card number..

mbriody

I think everyone is missing the point. I have no problem with the fact that I may not have been eligble for a free trial.

The point I am trying to make is that nowhere during the sign up procedure did they say this. Everything went through as if I was getting 2 months free.

The email they sent plus the account status confirms this.

I repeat:

"Tariff: 2 month unlimited gift
Login email: xxxxx@yahoo.com

We're sure you'll want to stay with us after the end of your gift subscription period, but if you decide to cancel, and return all your discs before your first billing date, there will be no charge for our service. "

No mention of ineligibility there.

martinbuckley

Same happened to me, and I couldn't get through in 30 mins, so I took the online option of "freezing" my account to avoid charges, then phoned them later to tell them to cancel it.

Nothing has appeared on my CC transactions thus far.

stuzhunter

sounds quite messy compared to Screen Select free trial..

lnjk

I also got charged

dribsndrabs

lnjk wrote:

I also got charged

likewise however i got sent 2 vouchers each giving me a code for 1 month free each. i figured that these vouchers relate to the unlimited 2 month free gift so i don't mind too much. has anyone used gift vouchers before with lovefilm? - after inserting the voucher, will i definately not be charged?