Cineworld Unlimited Card - Unfair Terms by Cineworld

rsg444 · 13 October 2011 at 1:18AM

After 2 and half years, my Cineworld Unlimited card has worn out to the point that the photo isn't clear anymore. I was told by the cinema staff last night that I would have to request a new card (there is normally a £10 charge for this which in my opinion is unjust especially when the card hasn't been lost or stolen) . In addition to this, while I wait for my new card to arrive, I'm not allowed to use the old one and so have to pay full price for my tickets - not even if I present my unlimited card (which has my full name printed on it) with official photographic ID - Cineworld however continue to take the £15 monthly fee out of account. The card takes around 7 working days to arrive!

In my opinion, Cineworld have clearly got their Unlimited customers over a barrel as 7 working days is a long time for someone who is paying £15 to be able to watch as many films as they like.

Thoughts, comments and advice welcome.

pcombo · 13 October 2011 at 1:56AM

well you dont go to the cinema every single day do you.

JamesK10 · 13 October 2011 at 6:11AM

First time I tried to use my Unlimited card (this was before the 12 month contract) not one but two different branches refused the temp version.

Keep ALL your tickets and stubs where you've had to pay full price, photocopy and send them off to Cineworld's head office explaining the circumstances, and they should send out comps to redress your spend, and if they're still blue and white when they arrive they **should** be usable anytime.

I've since moved on to the Odeon card now where you just get points to build up to freebies, rather than giving Cineworld the money every month when I might not get there regularly anymore.

rsg444 · 13 October 2011 at 9:08AM

pcombo wrote: »

well you dont go to the cinema every single day do you.

You're right, I don't but when I specifically told them that I was planning to return on Sunday they could have been more understanding instead of treating me like a criminal and saying, we're not going to give you your tickets for today if you don't let us cut the corner off - including my brother's one that I had paid full price for.

It's the point that Cineworld seem to be OK with taking the regular money out of my account but can also do as they please?

If you subscribed to Sky TV every month and it didn't work for a week and a half you'd accept that? - just because you might not watch it every day. It's about the principal.

vuvuzela · 13 October 2011 at 9:14AM

rsg444 wrote: »

You're right, I don't but when I specifically told them that I was planning to return on Sunday they could have been more understanding instead of treating me like a criminal and saying, we're not going to give you your tickets for today if you don't let us cut the corner off - including my brother's one that I had paid full price for.

It's the point that Cineworld seem to be OK with taking the regular money out of my account but can also do as they please?

If you subscribed to Sky TV every month and it didn't work for a week and a half you'd accept that? - just because you might not watch it every day. It's about the principal.

Ignore pcombo, they have an unerring accuracy when it comes to rudely missing the point.

I agree with you about the card, (up to) a week and a half without it is ridiculous when you are paying a monthly fee. I don't know how it works as I've not got a cineworld close to be able to use, but the fact you can't use the old one is just plain stupid, surely you could hand it in when the new one arrives or it is deactivated on the day the replacement is sent, something like that ?

rsg444 · 13 October 2011 at 12:28PM

Thanks Vuvuzela, since my last post I contacted Cineworld Customer Services who told me I'm likely to receive my new card in around 10-12 working days?!?!?!?! I obviousy objected and so Cineworld have kindly offered to send me complimentary tickets to watch my film as planned on Sunday.

vuvuzela · 13 October 2011 at 12:50PM

That's far better service. Not good at all that it takes such a ridiculously long time to get the new card but good they acknowledged the inconvenience of it.

JamesK10 · 13 October 2011 at 1:08PM

rsg444 wrote: »

Thanks Vuvuzela, since my last post I contacted Cineworld Customer Services who told me I'm likely to receive my new card in around 10-12 working days?!?!?!?! I obviousy objected and so Cineworld have kindly offered to send me complimentary tickets to watch my film as planned on Sunday.

As long as you have the comps for the weekend then that's a result, even if it's sad that some problems stay the same eight years on from the introduction of the card.