LOVEFILM CON-fusion

bap98189

edub wrote: »

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.

How can it breach your consumer rights. They are providing the service you signed up to. You just don't like it because you have to pay for something you want for free. That would only be in breach of your rights had they promised you could watch TopGun for free when you signed up.

The reason they are charging is probably because they have to pay a royalty to the film company every time a film is watched online. I don't know the details of their agreement with the film studio in question, but it seems unlikely that they are going to let LoveFilm have the online rights for free. That doesn't apply when you rent the physical disc as they will have purchased that disc with a licence to rent it out as often as they like.

But even if they don't have to pay a royalty to the film studio for online viewing, it matters not one hoot. They are quite entitled to charge for that service if they want.

edub

OlliesDad wrote: »

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.

Yeah, you're probably right. Will see what they come back with.

edub

bap98189 wrote: »

The reason they are charging is probably because they have to pay a royalty to the film company every time a film is watched online.

This is what i'm trying to establish.

Wicked_witch

Cynical moneymaking ploy. I gave up in disgust when they held back the DVD release of Nightmare on Elm Street and Predators for several weeks after blockbuster etc had it, so that they could show it as a pay per view instead. I don't have a problem with them offering new films as PPV, but not giving customers the option of renting the dvd instead is just sharp practice. I was also unimpressed at how many very old films, such as The Matrix or Halloween being PPV. I voted with my feet (well, the online equivalent of same) and have subscribed to the sky film channels over christmas instead.

heretolearn_2

Yeah, I've just started watching their free on-line stuff as well and most of the films are old and/or rubbish. Not all though...and there are loads of great TV series on there for me to catch up with :-)

If I really want to see a specific film I'll use the normal post service.

Don't think it's worth complaining about. As I see it the subscriptions are really for the postal service, then the on-line stuff is an added extra.

Noddy68

I think I've fallen for this as well. I saw the Lovefilm app on the PS3 and it stated 30 day free trial. I went to the website lovefilm/ps3 it clearly states 30 days. However, when I filled in the form and clicked on "submit", it thanked me and said I had 14 days!
Anyway- I could see on my PS3 it said "watch thousands of films online now". Sounds great? Wrong. None of the new titles are on there as I thought they would be. My wife wanted to watch Sex & The City 2 but it was only available by DVD in the post. I admit, I didn't read any small print. Reason being- the way it was advertised. The lure of "thousands of films" to watch on the PS3 sounded good and makes one think that one is getting a choice of DVD by post, or watch online. Anyway, its only for 14 days, then I'll cancel