Lovefilm free trial problems (merged threads)

Sweet_Pea_2

I had this problem with Lovefilm. I returned all discs and cancelled my membership a few days before the free trial ran out. Lovefilm dispatched another DVD anyway received it the last day of the free trial - no way I could return it in time. (Even though I had emptied my queue) I contacted them to explain this but they took the months rental anyway and refused to refund. They said "as you have had to pay why not take advantage and order more films?" I could see this one going on forever and a day so I said no way. Despite my very vehement complaints, they got ruder and ruder with their replies. There is no way I would touch them or any other of these companies again with a bargepole. I think they are very aware that people will use the free offer, I doubt theres many people who actually manage to get just the free offer with no charge. Its like the music and book clubs, they think you will sign up and then not bother to cancel or even notice that the money is still being debited.
If I want to rent DVDs in future I will either sign up properly with one of these companies (mot Lovefilm or screenselect though!) and pay the money or join blockbusters.

ltlmiles5

I had similar problems with Screenselect. I had a free trial, then I cancelled my membership, and returned the DVDs two days before they were due. I felt that I could get the same sort of service from a different company, and that the money I was paying wasn't worth it. They claimed that the DVDs arrived late, and still charged me for the next month's membership.

After three e-mails to them, during which time, again, they asked me to use the month's membership as I had already paid for it, but I refused as I thought that that was unethical.

I then sent a letter to the customer services manager with photocopies of proof of postage, showing I'd returned the DVDs two days before they were due, by first class post. No reply from them for 4 weeks! I sent two e-mails to the manager again.

This had become a matter of principle! I then e-mailed the WHICH consumer magazine, askign for their help and they replied saying that they thought the service I had received so far was terrible, suggested that I contact trading standards, especially as I had the proof of postage, and said that I was in a strong position, but to ensure that I had sent a letter to the company first, as trading stds. requires that to be done first.

A week later, I receive a letter from the customer services manager apologising for the delay and saying that the £12.49 would be credited to my account in a few days, which I have now received!

Don't give up hope! Keep at them. Don't give away your money to those who would just try and take it, even if you're not at fault! I didn't have to go to trading stds in the end, as Screenselect wrote back. But I would write to them and say that you would go through trading standards, if you don't receive a satisfactory reply. I believe you should be able to get whatever info you need from their website.

teenage_Drama

hi
im having a similar problem and on my mums credit card statement it says
WP RENT-A-DVD..
Now as i have had quiet a few trials with so many companies i dont know who this WP RENT-A-DVD company is..we tried calling capital one and they said they dont have any other information on the company who took out the money from my accounts..
does anyone know who WP RENT-A-DVD ARE?

Ali_UK

Am not happy! Have just checked my bank statement to find that LOVE FILM (yes, I do love film, I just HATE YOUR COMPANY!!) have debited £14.99 from my card on 3rd Jan even though my free trial is still going and my next billing date still say 28th Jan (which it has been since I joined!). I joined on the offer that was through the Times, wonder if they'd be interested to know how much bother they are causing?

I've emailed asking them to return my money, and emptied my queue (had one free rental left so definitely haven't gone over my ten discs) all discs returned so lets see what gem of an excuse they come up with!

SaverSarah_2

Oh dear, doesn't anyone have anything nice to say about LoveFilm? I've just signed up for an unlimited two month trial with a code posted on another board, now beginning to wish I hadn't...!

Ali_UK

sorry! Well, it is the vent and warning board

Anyway, enjoy your trial but please remember to return all your dvds, empty your queue etc about five-ten days before your free trial is up so that you can cancel (if you want to!) safely and without cost!

SaverSarah_2

Good point! Thanks Ali, some times I follow links and I'm not aware what forum I'm actually reading in. Thanks for the advice anyway, I'll definitely bear that in mind.

moneysaver1234567

Hi, wow I've just been through 2 months of emails with i love film with no resolve and am basically now being ignored by them.
My problem was that I cancelled my membership over the phone the day before my billing date so no more films would be sent i also returned 2 dvd's which arrived with them on the same day my contract was cancelled. I was advised by the customer service person i spoke to that if they arrived the following day (which they did) i would have my membership cancelled and no more money would be taken from my account.

Guess what, the account was cancelled and an hour before they did this they took my monthly subscription.

I have asked for my money back about 6 times and all i get are emails from customer services who don't understand what my problem is?!?, they are abrupt, rude and basically are now actually ignoring my last mail to them where i asked for the matter to be escalated to a manager. I feel robbed and wish i'd never got involved with them. I was with screen select originally through a recommendation on this site, they have since become i love film. My advice to anyone is to run a mile, don't sign up and don't expect to be treated fairly if you are trying to leave them or correspond with them!

I love film, you are a disaster!

thriftymiss_2

Well, my experience has been just as harrowing. I did a free trial (nothing to do with a boots voucher) for 1 month in the autumn and phoned to cancel, but they took some money out anyway. I asked for this to be refunded as I have cancelled, they said if I wanted to stay on thier books for another 3 months free. I succumber and was told the taken £14.99 would carry me over til 14th January when my next billing date would be. I sent the discs back over xmas and they received them on 4th Jan (meanwhile I had been online to cancel the account) and my account was closed down on 4th Jan 07. However I notice from my last bank statement that the f%&$kers have taken £14.99 on 19th DECEMBER!!! I have emailed Customer Services (splutter) who are also a bunch of w$%£kers and seem not to read properly the information and just keep telling me my discs were not received until after billing date (which is obviously bulls£$% as December falls before January). Hacked off or what. What do I do? Go to bank and tell them that it is an unauthorised transaction, can I also include the original £14.99 too??

yeslek

Sweet_Pea wrote:

I had this problem with Lovefilm. I returned all discs and cancelled my membership a few days before the free trial ran out. Lovefilm dispatched another DVD anyway received it the last day of the free trial - no way I could return it in time. (Even though I had emptied my queue) I contacted them to explain this but they took the months rental anyway and refused to refund. They said "as you have had to pay why not take advantage and order more films?" I could see this one going on forever and a day so I said no way. Despite my very vehement complaints, they got ruder and ruder with their replies. There is no way I would touch them or any other of these companies again with a bargepole. I think they are very aware that people will use the free offer, I doubt theres many people who actually manage to get just the free offer with no charge. Its like the music and book clubs, they think you will sign up and then not bother to cancel or even notice that the money is still being debited.
If I want to rent DVDs in future I will either sign up properly with one of these companies (mot Lovefilm or screenselect though!) and pay the money or join blockbusters.

lovefilm are jsut the worst.

i have had free trials off a number of companies and cancelled with no problems, and actaully ended up going back to blockbuster and signing up for a paying package cos they were that good.