Netflix Testing Password Sharing Plan That Costs $3 Extra in Latin America

[photoj2754]

So I just read an update on this story on Vulture. This was a pretty big bit of info-"However, there is one sort of loophole: For now, using Netflix on various mobile devices like laptops and smartphones will not be counted as an additional charge no matter how long you use it, so go ahead and fire up that AirPlay, baby."

Netflix’s Password-Sharing Plan Has a Handy Loophole

The streamer is testing out the new password crackdown in South America this summer.

www.vulture.com

 

[JM]

It would be fine if they would stop increasing their prices every year or so.
But when they just had another price increase a couple months ago, it’s a lot harder to justify.
for the standard plan:
2018: $10.99
January 2019: $12.99
October 2020: $13.99
January 2022: $15.49
That means if you spent all this time password sharing (and everyone knows most people have at one point or another), not only has you’re yearly cost gone up by $54 simply within the last four years, but if this takes affect in the US your cost will go up even more dramatically.
We’re talking about going from $131.88 a year in 2018 to a possible $221.87 a year.
And that’s still just for 1080P content, two streams at the same time, and a much worst catalog than 2018.
maybe if this three dollar fee started when the price was still 12.99, it wouldn’t be as hard to get irritated by.

Okay, so the $4 fee has already been paid, haha.

Yeah, $24 a month is steep for the HD content and four people. I guess $24 / 4 isn’t so bad… 6$ a month per line.

 

[Thebrochure]

Service has serious flaws, people exploit said flaws, makers double-down and keep at it, thinking they're going to actually stay one step ahead instead of abandoning service and going back to a more secure method of commerce.

Basically all of Western civilization.

 

[compwiz1202]

Service has serious flaws, people exploit said flaws, makers double-down and keep at it, thinking they're going to actually stay one step ahead instead of abandoning service and going back to a more secure method of commerce.

Basically all of Western civilization.

Exactly. The execs don't care if the company burns while they take their money to some tropical island

 

[AppleFan1998]

Netflix is trying to do better with testing an added price to share the password, they are trying to make it work, is not too unreasonable for $3 but if it’s anymore than that, they want to be cancelled.

 

[NoIdentity]

They are not changing the terms of service.

The terms of service have not changed on this for a decade, and always said that it was limited to household.

The definition of household is the regular legal one that is used for filing taxes - people who are normally (i.e. the majority of the year) resident overnight in the same domestic premises. I hope some of you trying to pretend this is complicated aren't in charge of filing your family's tax returns.

what they wrote (“de jure”) is one thing, what they enforec (“de facto”) is another thing. Somethimes how you behave and what you enforce can take precedence over what has been written.

In the end as someone else pointed out, TOS can change unileateraly, so in the end the consumers are (so far) screwed. Hopefully consumer protection will come at some point.

 

[hans1972]

Nope. Can't place restrictions on usage they've already sold you. They sell you 4 simultaneous streams. They govern that on the backend. They CANNOT legally introduce arbitrary restrictions on that. If they do, they will be sued into oblivion.

It's been in there term of service for many years. It's something you agreed to when you signed up.
Also their agreement allows them to change the terms when they see fit as long as they notify you 30 days in advance and allows you to cancel the service if you don't agree to the new terms.

 

[NoIdentity]

They still have far and away the most non-English content, almost always with excellent captioning in the original language that matches the dialogue well. A majority of what I watch on Netflix is in French or Spanish with French or Spanish subtitles. (And I'm looking forward to watching Dark in German when my German is good enough, but it's not quite there yet.)


That's the thing. That is not the definition of a household or a dependent for filing taxes. In a few weeks, our younger kid will join his brother at college, so we'll have two dependent members of the household in separate dorms 45 minutes away. By any common legal definition, they are members of this household. This is their domicile and will be until they graduate from college.

Diferent countries have different legal definitions. Netflix operates quite globally.

 

[ackmondual]

I’ve just cancelled my Netflix subscription and switched to HBO MAX and Amazon Prime. Those combined are cheaper than Netflix.

Are you getting any of those on promos, sales, or deals?.....

For me, NF will be either $10 to $15.50 per month (I'm watching on a 1440p monitor so I don't want to pay for 4K anyways. HD would look nicer, even though SD may suffice since some YouTube videos are at that resolution)

Amazon Prime Video (just the streaming service. No Prime shipping/shopping, nor other perks included like Music and Photos) is $9 a month.
HBO Max is $10 a month for the plan w/ads.

... so yeah, it checks out. NF highest tier is more costly than HBO Max and AP on their cheapest tiers.

 

[Macative]

It's been in there term of service for many years. It's something you agreed to when you signed up.
Also their agreement allows them to change the terms when they see fit as long as they notify you 30 days in advance and allows you to cancel the service if you don't agree to the new terms.

You're missing the point. This isn't about "Netflix can do anything because of TOS". The point is that it is physically impossible for them to distinguish from completely legitimate usage and what they call password sharing. So anything they claim in this regard is BS.

 

[ackmondual]

This right here.
Up-charging for 4K HDR(which no one else does) in 2022 is already pretty egregious (especially given the quality isn't even that great.)
To then say "Oh but you get 4 simultaneous streams... but we won't let you share with anyone outside your household... oh and we get to determine the definition of household," is just insanely anti consumer.

Well, you're assuming if there was only one plan, it would be at the $10 or $15.50 price point, with 4K thrown on, when really, it could've just as easily been only at $20. I don't care about 4K, so I'm glad to have the option to save $$ by going HD instead. Curiosity Stream does this too... $20 for HD, or $70 for 4K, both annual pricing.

 

[whatgift]

While there is a fair argument about Netflix's prices, most other streaming services are trying to build their user base to the same level, and once they do, their prices will go up too.

 

[randomthoughts]

So maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but charging only three extra dollars on top of the monthly rate sounds like an OK solution.

I was paying $13.99 a month less than 3 years ago. The price is now $19.99 a month. That’s $72 more a year for the same streaming quality and 4 streams where I only ever use one alone, other than my mom. Now I need to pay another $36 more a year for nothing new? How is that an okay solution?

So in 3 years time I am paying $108 more a year for the same everything.

 

[macjoshua]

This will be the norm for streaming services at some point, so we may as well all get used to it. A few dollars is honestly cheaper than I expected for a company that charges extra for HD and UHD.

 

[randomthoughts]

allows you to cancel the service if you don't agree to the new terms

Which is why they lost 1.3 million subscribers in Q2 of 2022 alone.

 

[JM]

I was paying $13.99 a month less than 3 years ago. The price is now $19.99 a month. That’s $72 more a year for the same streaming quality and 4 streams where I only ever use one alone, other than my mom. Now I need to pay another $36 more a year for nothing new? How is that an okay solution?

So in 3 years time I am paying $108 more a year for the same everything.

The price increases put that way sound downright criminal.

 

[jhfenton]

Diferent countries have different legal definitions. Netflix operates quite globally.

That’s true. So any of us throwing out blanket statements about what a “household” is need to keep that in mind.

But the US federal income tax system has a support test for determining who is a dependent for tax purposes, not a most-of-the-year-overnight-residency test. And there are quite a few circumstances where your domicile—legal residence—is not the same as your current physical residence—college and military service being two of the most common examples.

Netflix is, of course, free to define “household” however they want in their contract, but it is going to bump up against people’s expectations if Netflix wants college students or military service members on deployment to pay extra. (I couldn’t care less about the promiscuous password sharers. We don’t share passwords outside the immediate family.)

 

[senttoschool]

You don't get it. Unless you're only allowed to watch Netflix from your home IP address (effectively killing netflix), there is no way for them to determine whether or not your usage is "legitimate" or not. Simply not possible.

There is no sure way. But what Netflix is doing is to ask you to verify that you are the original owner of the account. They do this by sending you a verification code to the registered email. This will either annoy you or stop you if you're just mooching off your friend.

 

[oofio2461]

No wonder why people are cutting Netfilx out of their Budgets and replacing them with Disney+ it's far cheaper and has no ads while Netflix Does.

 

[Yuukon]

If the password sharing plan becomes available everywhere else, Netflix will surely charge quite a bit for it. Maybe even 50% extra. Not happy with Netflix prices. Waiting to see how they price their ad supported plan.

I read on the news this morning that the ad-supported cheaper plan won't even offer the entire catalog, just part of it.

 

[laptech]

And how exactly will they determine who is sharing a password with another household versus those who travel extensively for work and use Netflix on a mobile device while away from home?

I'm no password sharing thief but I travel a lot and tend to stay in the same areas when traveling, just try to charge me for that and I will cancel promptly!

Also wonder how they plan to deal with VPN customers as our IPs can be all over the place.

It is easy for companies to get around the use of VPN's, they just add it to their terms and conditions of use/service in that anyone found using a VPN will have their account banned unless they can prove the need for using a VPN is for legitimate purposes.

 

[Flood4]

The value just isn't there anymore. There's too many other streaming services, plus Youtube alone provides me with a lifetime of free content.

YouTube provide you with content like stranger things, lupin, narcos, the crown, etc. Etc.?

 

[compwiz1202]

The whole issue with the pricing isn't just it increasing. It's how often. I remember when I was young, prices went up every few years, and the businesses would be afraid they'd lose customers. Now it's multiple times a year and no one bats an eye.

 

[MadDawg2020]

Stop charging more for higher resolution and maybe I'll stop sharing my account.

What does one have to do with the other?

YOU are violating the TOA contract you agreed to when you shared your account.
The fact that they have paid tiers for various quality levels has nothing to do with that.

 

[MadDawg2020]

This is Napster all over again, it’s very simple folks, sharing your account login with others is a violation of the Terms of Service you agreed to. You are STEALING and pirating content that you have no rights to!

It does’t matter if you don’t like it or have feelings that you are somehow entitled to do what you want. And it is irrelevant that Netflix has tiered pricing plan you do disagree with, that does not mean you have the right to steal.

YOU are the one stealing, and Netflix has every right to enforce their policies. The fact that they simply do not cancel your account when you are caught stealing means they are at least willing to work out a compromise.

Also, if people have to resort to stealing a service they want because they can’t afford $15 a month, then perhaps they should reexamine their budget or get a better job.