netflix update

NETFLIX UPDATE: I hope my hour this morning helps shed light to some of the confusion. I was ticked off about my Netflix plan change, the ads, but more about me now being blocked from content. I started a T-Mobile chat with customer service that led me needing to talk on the phone. My rep was kind but ignorant, that led me to a manager. ONE HOUR later I get clarification I hope helps you all. Netflix indeed made changes creating these 3 levels of plans. If you go on their website the top plan is $16/mo. Now that's what most of us already had for YEARS (no ads, no blocked content)

T-Mobile obviously has side agreements with Netflix when T-Mobile offered to give us Netflix "for free". We all know nothings free but rather it was build into our Magenta Max T-Mobile plan. T-Mobile was paying Netflix $6.99/mo for the standard (no ads no blocked content plan) Now Netflix has raised the agreed upon price with T-Mobile for that SAME STANDARD PLAN to $8.50/mo.

Most people are under the impression to get back their standard Netflix plan they must pay $8.50 ON TOP of the $6.99 they were already paying. And that's exactly how the customer service rep explained it to me as well! THAT IS INCORRECT! 
T-Mobile used to pay $6.99/mo on our behalf. Now it's costing T-Mobile $8.50 so they just kept everybody at the $6.99 but yes that's now the lowest Netflix plan (ads & blocked content and 1 line) which pissed everyone off.

The manager put my Netflix account back to my old standard plan (2 lines, no ads, no blocked content) and explained my T-Mobile bill will only go up $1.51/mo. I still understand the change pissing people off, but I'm sure $1.51 more is something many are willing to be fine with than $8.50/mo more. I told him they need to send out customer emails explaining this better, not just we changed your plan and now it sucks. And they need to train customer service reps to explain this CORRECTLY so as not to waste hours on this crap. He agreed and planned to escalate that feedback. Now, should T-Mobile have just eaten the $1.51/mo… yes. Because many will just be pissed and leave T-Mobile due to lack of explanation and understanding. I didn't enjoy arguing for an hour with an ignorant customer service rep on my Saturday morning but to me… it was the point. All that being said yes my bill will now be $1.51/mo more for my old Netflix plan back. However he gave me a one time $30 bill credit. Technically that's like T-Mobile is covering the increase for the next 20 months. In the end it's all petty to many but I hope this clears up what's REALLY changing. Bc going back to your old Netflix plan should NOT increase your bill by $8.50/mo but rather just $1.51.

If you go on Netflix's website clearly that standard plan is $16/mo, but that is NOT the agreed upon price for T-Mobile customers. It's $8.50/mo.

so call T-Mobile to put you back on the standard plan, maybe ask for a $30 credit, and know after the credits gone your bill is really only $1.51/mo more.

Happy Saturday Netflixing the old ad-free way :-)))

So Netflix changes their terms so it's a Tmobile issue? All Tmobile does is facilitate the payment to Netflix.

Made user name today for participation 

9 year customer on old $25.00 unlimited talk & Text + $20.00 Unlimited data add on & 5gb tether (Orginal Jump) Plan.

Was Digits beta tester , get that free + t-mobile was kind enough to give me free Netflix basic plan for participation - All grandfathered in thank you John Legere.

Those on old Basic Netflix plan are safe....somewhat.

Those on that plan can no longer stream on 2 devices @ once unless you pay upgrade fee of $6.99.

If you choose upgrade option basic plan is no more , you're on new Standard Ad plan.

I blame Netflix for that , their trying too phase out Basic plan customers.

At least T-mobile is making it a little harder for them to achieve that goal.

So to all the people saying this is an overreaction and that "it costs nothing to simply not use it," every one of us is paying for this service, and if you think the price of Netflix isn't baked into the price you pay, then you don't know how business works. Even if we were getting it completely free, we may only have signed up for the service for specific perks, and may not be able to change services now due to the glut of legacy hardware and software that's in regular use around the world. We have a right to be pissed, because ads aren't nothing. They're annoying, they waste time, and more importantly they eat up data - and since we still have soft data caps that matters. Get off your high horse and recognize when you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation.

fireguy_6364 wrote:

Jjones108 wrote:

Adding 2 screens, 1080p streaming but with ads is a major downgrade from 1 screen, 720p without ads. Adding ads makes it a complete worthless benefit because I won't use it. So t-mobile is just actively making their service worse. 

no one is forcing you to use their free to you Netflix..

It's not really free if you have to have one of their most expensive plans (which are already 100% overpriced) to get it. On top of the fact that they recently raised the prices of their plans, so they're basically just getting you to pay for it anyway lol. Atp it's cheaper to have a lower plan or different phone company entirely and pay for Netflix yourself so I can see why people including myself think this is a useless 'upgrade'. They give the option to change but only to a higher costing plan like Standard or Premium unfortunately.

fireguy_6364 wrote:

Jjones108 wrote:

Adding 2 screens, 1080p streaming but with ads is a major downgrade from 1 screen, 720p without ads. Adding ads makes it a complete worthless benefit because I won't use it. So t-mobile is just actively making their service worse. 

no one is forcing you to use their free to you Netflix..

It was part of the packaged price when changing over to netflix. I switched to tmobile paying more than my last carrier to have netflix built in.  Now just tried this new with ads and several programs are now locked only available without ad plans.  Tmobile added hulu which the price of hulu could still have given netflix standard no ads at the same rate. 

Jjones108 wrote:

Adding 2 screens, 1080p streaming but with ads is a major downgrade from 1 screen, 720p without ads. Adding ads makes it a complete worthless benefit because I won't use it. So t-mobile is just actively making their service worse. 

no one is forcing you to use their free to you Netflix..

Gomandy99 wrote:

There should be option to buy without ads option .. with ads is worthless

there is..you pay for the Netflix instead of TMO..then you dont have any ads.

idontwanna wrote:

TLDR; I only made a username today because I got tired of seeing the majority of posts with no real information and just griefing. This is to provide what I have been through so far. I don't think T-Mobile corporate has been providing good communication on this change both to the public and internally. I have been trying to get a straight answer from T-Mobile who is making the change (T-Mobile/Netflix) and why. If you don't have information that provides actual help or are just guessing, please do not respond. I am waiting on an "escalated ticket" response to find out if I can stay on Basic.

 

gramps28 wrote:

So Netflix changes their terms so it's a Tmobile issue? All Tmobile does is facilitate the payment to Netflix.

Por https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926:
"The Basic plan is no longer available for new or rejoining members. If you are currently on the Basic plan, you can remain on this plan until your plan is changed or you cancel your account." - So Netflix is apparently not kicking anyone off Basic who already has it.

 

fireguy_6364 wrote:

Gomandy99 wrote:

There should be option to buy without ads option .. with ads is worthless

there is..you pay for the Netflix instead of TMO..then you dont have any ads.

“Note: *The Standard con anuncios plan may not be available through all third-party billing partners and packages. Please check with your provider to confirm availability." - T-Mobile is a billing partner, but this does not mention Basic would be unavailable. This may be what you need to do to keep Basic. I read on Reddit if you stop Billing through T-Mobile and pay Netflix directly, you can keep Basic. I HAVE NOT confirmed this with Netflix though, so you should ask them first if that is what you want.

 

Thing is, T-Mobile didn't provide any real information to their customer service agents it seems. I have gone through multiple customer service contacts with T-Mobile, and every one of them not great due to a lack of knowledge and heavy handed confusing wording:

 

First, Chat/T-Mobile: I stated I want to stay on the Basic plan. I was repeatedly told not to worry that I was on it "today". When I asked about Jan 24/25 (it's listed as 2 different dates in multiple places), I was told to not worry that I will be placed on Standard w/ads this month, even though I am contacting to not have that happen and stay on Basic. I was then told that "it" was done (I don't remember the exact wording) and to not worry ("don't worry" is a recurring theme).

 

Second, Call/T-Mobile: I felt uncomfortable with how the chat went, so I called to confirm I will not be changed. The agent was unable to to see anything that indicates I would stay on Basic. They believed (they were not sure) that Netflix was initiating the change. Makes sense I guess, so time to contact Netflix.

 

Third, Chat/Netflix: Agent informs me that Netflix cannot make plan changes to accounts billed through partners like T-Mobile. They state that I am on Basic and can stay on Basic and to let T-Mobile know I do not want to change.

 

Fourth, Chat/T-Mobile: Again stating I do not want Standard w/ads, I want to stay on Basic. I got the same "don't worry" talk about how I was already on Basic "today" and "don't worry" i will be upgraded later when asking to not be upgraded in the future. The agent told me that Netflix was dropping the plan, I showed them the Netflix page saying you can keep it. This would imply T-Mobile wants to kick me off Basic. They would not confirm that was the case.  After an hour of back and forth, I got an "escalated ticket" on how to stay on Basic. Waiting for a response next week.

 

The only reason I have been able to determine is that T-Mobile wants to pay less for "Netflix on Us". Directly via Netflix, Basic is $9.99, Standard w/ads is $6.99, and Standard w/o ads is $15.49. This would explain the "Netflix on Us"  change from $6.50 → $8.50 ($15.49 - 6.99 = $8.50). Same logic for Premium.

I spoke with upper-tier rep , he confirmed Basic will remain in tact for customers with that plan.

It's grandfathered in

My Account was also noted with guarantee.

Downside.

Up until last week , I was able to stream on 2 devices @ once 

Now , It will only allow one stream with option to pay $6.99 upgrade for second stream.

This is were it gets tricky. If you choose upgrade Basic plan is no more. You are put on Standard plan with ads.

That isn't Tmobiles fault, Netflix is to blame.

Their trying to eliminate Basic plan users.

marka3 wrote:

Netflix offers us Hulu with ads for free(that we never asked for) while downgrading Netflix without ads to Netflix with ads. They make it sound like this is a new benefit, which it is not. I will now downgrade my Magenta Max 55+ to the regular Magenta 55+ plan and pay for Netflix without ads separately.

You say that they offer hulu with ads when your signed with Netflix themselves? Please clarify, also are you not in the US? Because we've never heard about having hulu with ads for being with Netflix!