LOVEFILM CON-fusion

edub

Hi all,

On Lovefilm coming to PS3, I was very disapointed to find that all the desirable and highly rated films that they have in their on-line library are on a per-per-view basis, whilst the 'free with my package' version of their on-line library consists of mainly undesireable and low rated films.

The reason for my confusion is in the comparison beween my physical disc entitlement and my on-line entitlement. As part of my package entitlement with LOVEFILM I can quite happily add the titles found in the on-line pay per view section to my physical disc queue without any extra charge being applied to me, but when i want to watch the same films on-line i am subject to a charge...

What's the difference? Is there some legal small print that i am not aware of or is it a cynical money making ploy and if the latter is it legal for them to do it.

The inconsistentcy of my package entitlement seems a little suspicious. Especially when i see films like Leathal Weapon in there from many, many years ago, that has been on TV several times... but it has got 4 stars and they want £2.50 to watch it on line!... hmmm!

cheers for reading (and hopefully responding)

nomoneytoday

Probably down the studios licencing the specific films...

edub

Certainly a possibility, but it seems to be restricted to highly rated films only, so appears to be more selective than contractual...

I have written to LoveFilm and to Watchdog as well to try and get to the bottom of it. I'll post any replies i get here for info, but if anyone has any hard reasoning as to why this would be the case please post, so i can shake this feeling of getting screwed over.

cheers

High__Flyer_2

And what exactly will watchdog do?

I don't see what LoveFilm have done wrong?

DCFC79

What can watchdog do ?

why not just continue to receive the disks or you cancel and go somewhere else

in any case lovefilm isnt a con and why is the title lovefilm con fusion

edub

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I think it's a perfectly valid question when you consider the comparitive entitlement arguement that i pose; when comparing the physical disc entitlement to the on-line viewing entitlement, they do not equate to the same thing... there is an extra tier of payment in one, which is absent in the other...

So the question stands; what is the difference?!

If there is a legitmate difference for legal or contractual reasons, then fair enough, but if there isn't then i want to know what justification there is for the autonomous charge on films that i am entitled to as part of my existing subscription in one format over another.

I have read the terms and conditions and at no point does it provide a disctinction or caveat that answers my question... ultimately i want to know if it contravenes my consumer rights, hence why i have posted in a consumer rights forum and have written to a consumer rights programme... it's not that hard to figure out really, is it?! :think:

Con fusion was just an attempt at word play... can't win 'em all i guess.

DCFC79

Woah we got a right 1 here,


so have you watched films online before then

edub

yeah, but only through Lovefilm since it came to the PS3. Before that i always had online viewing entitlement as part of my subscription, but sitting in my study to watch a movie on my PC wasn't as comfortable as being sprawled on the sofa, so i never used it.

LF came to PS3, i got excited, then disapointed and here we are...

justmel

I am a Lovefilm member with unlimited online viewing,before you select your package it does state the amount of free films that will be included and there is a drop down tab that allows you to see the 'free with package' films that can be watched online whether your package is unlimited or 4 hours per month etc.

So you do get to see what will be available as part of the package as free before you sign up,the pay per view are considered to be premium titles,you can either pay extra and see them straight away or add them to your rental list and put them on high prority meaning you should get them soon anyway.

I have found them to be very fast at getting the discs to me,slowed a bit during the bad weather but you allow for that.

I do think it is a way to make more money but there is no lying or deception in it,they show you what is included as free so you can see what you are getting for your money.

edub

I am on an unlimited package too and have enjoyed years of good and quick service from LF.

On my existing package i can watch unlimited DVD's and have unlimited on-line viewing time.

I want to watch Top Gun. As part of my existing package i can place that disc in my DVD queue and will be sent the DVD quickly at no extra charge.

I want to watch Top Gun via the LF on-line service, but i have to pay £2.49 in addition to my existing subscription.

I want to understand why this is the case and if it breaches my (our) consumer rights. Yes LF provide an excellent service; fast, efficient, reliable... but i don't think this is reason enough for consumer apathy.

NB. I picked Top Gun (1986) as my example to demonstrate that we're not talking about current films here. In fact if you do a search on the pay-per-view films and return the first 50 results on page 1, 29 of the 50 are from the year 2000 or older.

OlliesDad

I would imagine that Sony arent going to be doing this free of charge so therefore LF are charging for new films to cover their costs.

As this feature was not available when you signed up, it is unlikely to be breaching any consumer of contractual rights.