chijan ursulyna salama
Chris Richard
Earlier this month, I canceled my Netflix account, something I've always wanted to do, but never before felt ready to try. It all happened because Netflix lost the one show I wanted to watch the most.
And now that I've finished that show? Well, the good news is that I'm keeping Netflix turned off (at least for the immediate future). In its absence, I've had no lack of shows to watch, thanks to three other streaming services that are meeting my needs for shows. Heck, one of them just added a movie I've wanted to see (without going to the cinema).
This entire process, as I'll document below, shows that Netflix does not have a strangle-hold on the world of streaming. It may be ubiquitous. Shows such as The Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna may dominate social media, and there's a ton of buzz around the Bridgerton season 2 teaser trailer, but you don't need it every month. In fact, you may also be asking should you cancel Netflix?
That's because between Peacemaker, Euphoria and The Righteous Gemstones, HBO Max has been on fire as of late. All three shows are currently proving that while Succession was HBO's most buzzed about show last fall, the service is far more than just that one show (while Netflix can often times feel like the place that is eventually bringing Stranger Things and The Witcher back at some point).
And while those shows will end soon, that amount of concurrent quality gives me reason to expect more. From Euphoria's constantly anxious and manic/depressive energy to Peacemaker's himbo energy to all of the hilarious family drama of Gemstones, HBO Max is great at giving me a range of vibes.
The big reason why I had to leave Netflix was to make room for the $8.99 per month AMC Plus, the only place I could watch Halt and Catch Fire. Then, after I canceled Netflix, I realized I wouldn't have to spend that cash, thanks to a second trial from Apple TV Channels. I kept Netflix canceled, though, as that $20 is nice to have in my pocket.
And over the last two weeks, I loved watching Halt and Catch Fire with every free second I had. Honestly, it's a true hidden gem of a show that's using a fictional, alternate history of the rise of the personal computer and the internet to show us five broken, but lovable characters. To say that the Halt and Catch Fire finale, and the episodes leading up to it, left me emotional would be an understatement. They wrecked me (and I loved every minute).
Unfortunately, AMC Plus isn't the true AMC super-subscription I want it to be, as we'll get to below. While it offers episodes of Killing Eve (which is about to come back for season four), it doesn't have Killing Eve season two. And it also doesn't have any episodes of the other big AMC series I want to watch, Better Call Saul.
Fortunately, the Black Friday $1 per month Hulu deal I got last year is still running, and Hulu has all the Killing Eve I need. It also has the other show I'm catching up on, What We Do In The Shadows (which I'm still in the middle of season 3 on).
Unfortunately, my time away from Netflix may have a predetermined end-date coming in the near future (No, I'm not excited about Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy). As you may have gathered, I've become enamored with watching all the shows I've always said I'll watch. On April 18, Better Call Saul (which is on Netflix in the U.S.) finally returns for its sixth and final season. Or at least half of that season, as AMC broke the two halves of Better Call Saul season 6 in half, and Variety reports the latter half isn't due until July 11.
I've watched almost all of Better Call Saul season one and that gives me five seasons and an episode left to watch. Netflix, unfortunately, doesn't have Better Call Saul season five yet. And nobody does. And so I might wind up spending $10 on Better Call Saul season 5 on Amazon. That's as annoying to me as anyone else.
I write all of the above without much confidence in what decision I'll make because I don't know where the series will go. What I'm hoping is that AMC Plus gets Better Call Saul seasons 1-5, and soon. That would be a smart way to drive subscriptions and promote the new season. But Better Call Saul shows no signs of leaving Netflix.
This brings me to two subjects that aren't fun for most folks: math and the concept of ownership of digital media. I could down the 31 Better Call Saul episodes I haven't seen that are on Netflix in one month's time (which would cost $19.99 for 4K, which the show streams in). Then, it costs me another $10 for season 5, if everything holds still.
Netflix is a streaming service with unlimited TV shows, movies, and more. You can watch as much as you want, whenever you want. There's always something new to discover every week made just for you. A Netflix Standard with ads plan is a $6.99/month value.
Max has it all. Stream HBO, iconic series, hit movies, fresh originals, family favorites, breaking news and more. Discover the best entertainment for every mood. Max With Ads plan is a $9.99/month value.
Note: You can only access the perks that are available with your plan.
*If you have Welcome Unlimited you can also add perks in My Verizon. Welcome Unlimited is no longer available to add to your account.
Yes. When you have the Netflix & Max (With Ads) $10/month perk, you can upgrade at any time to a Netflix Standard or Premium plan. These don't have ads. The change will be effective immediately. Make the Netflix plan changes by visiting your Netflix Account.*
You'll be charged the difference between the current retail prices of Netflix Standard with ads and the Netflix Standard or Premium plans. The updated charge will appear in the Services & perks section of your Verizon bill.
*You can also visit your Netflix account to change back to the Standard with Ads subscription.
You can get the Netflix & Max (With Ads) perk when you sign up for an eligible mobile phone or home internet plan.
Or when you have an eligible plan, you can add the perk anytime in My Verizon.
Yes. If you have a Netflix plan you can link this subscription to your perk.
When you begin registration, just enter your existing Netflix login credentials to link your existing Netflix account to your perk. Once completed, you will no longer be billed by Netflix.
Contact Netflix directly for any questions about Netflix billing for your existing Netflix account.
After you register your perk subscription, you can access your streaming content by signing in to your Netflix account, on any Netflix capable device, with the login you used when you registered.
Note: Netflix shows are only available on Netflix.
*Netflix is available on many internet-connected devices (e.g., set-top boxes, smart TVs, computers, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, etc. For a full list visit the Netflix website.
When you have the Netflix & Max (With Ads) perk you can manage your accounts by visiting your Netflix Account page. There, you can manage your Netflix plan, update login information, set Parental Controls, manage subtitles, language and playback settings and more.
For more information visit the Netflix Help Center.
When you have the Netflix & Max (With Ads) perk you can manage your Max account by visiting the Max Help Center, Account & Sign in.
There, you can change your email, password or name, manage your Max devices, help keep your account secure and more.
If you cancel your Netflix & Max (With Ads) perk during the billing period, you can use your perk until the end of the perk subscription period. The $10 charge for that month isn't refunded or prorated.
Netflix:
If you cancel the Verizon mobile or home internet service your perk is associated with, your perk is canceled. The $10 perk charge isn't refunded. You can use each perk subscription until the end of the perk subscription period, then the perk subscriptions cancel.
Important:
If you connected the wrong Netflix account to your Verizon perk, contact Netflix customer service for help.
You'll need to provide the email address for the Netflix account that's incorrectly linked. To get the email address, visit the My Verizon Services & perks page. Choose the Netflix & Max perk, click Manage, then Get Support with Netflix.
Anyway, got the new contract (no netflix), received an email that Netflix was removed (and then netflix themselves wanted to bill me, which is fine). However, the package was never changed from Fibre 65+Netflix despite the new contract.
Four times calling to support to try and fix it (as they want to charge me for Netflix each month). Each time they say they will sort it, and credit my account. However, just checked again and Netflix is still in my bundle. The last time I called, they redid the contract, but *still* netflix is on.
Hey @Arne-TalkTalk , could you work your magic again, almost another billing cycle without the problem being corrected! (only 14 more of these until my contract ends... hopefully won't have to message each month!)
Hi @Arne-TalkTalk , i think the request to remove has not only got stuck in my account, but also stuck in your back office teams. Just had the monthly bill email, and guess what, I'm being charged for Netflix again! I really dont want this to become a regulaar post on here or 30 mins at a time on the phone each month, can you or a colleague fix it again and somehow escalate so that someone takes an interest in sorting this out once and for all?
Hi @Arne-TalkTalk - any update please? I've logged onto my account 2 weeks later and its not changed. I'm close to another billing cycle, which invaariably means the bill will be wrong for another month.
I pay nef flix direct and Rogers cannot account as to where my money is going. I have spent days on the phone, countless times and to date no action has been taken. I was told I would be reimbursed but nothing yet and I am still being billed. My mother has been charged this $20.99 for over a year now. She doesn't even have a netflix account.
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