To think that as the main Netflix account holder...

[Netflixwoes]

... There should be a setting to override the other leechers viewers from watching if the main account holder wants to watch?

Eg. Main account holder signs in, and instead of us getting the "Too many people watching" message, it's transferred to the other people, and we automatically get access?

I was paying for 4 screens at a time, but at £13.99 a month I've had enough. I've now selected the basic plan at £5.99/month, so I know that the three other profiles on my account will probably stop me from watching, as I'm pretty sure they all watch it heavily every day. I KNOW I'm probably being unreasonable because I should just a) ask them to contribute to the premium 4 screen plan or b) show some tough love and sign out of all devices and quickly log in to claim my victory whenever I want to watch something. But in reality I'm a shy wallflower

AIBU to think that Netflix should give the main account holder this ultimate power?

Yabu for not just changing the password. Toughen up!

you need to toughen up OP

Your options are to pay for all the screens and be the Netflix Fairy Godmother, or save your money only pay the minimum and change the password, it really is that simple

You said yourself they are leeches, everyone likes something for nothing but no need for you to be a drip and completely enable them!

Cut them off! DOOOOOO IT!

or just continue moaning.

I'm stuck on the £13.99 plan for similar reasons. If this was a thing I'd happily downgrade to the middle plan. Actually now I think about it maybe netflix doesn't want us all doing that! 😂

YANBU

My old lodger moaned at me and claimed it was "unfair" that I wanted him to stop watching Netflix on my account that I pay for, so I could watch.

He did that only once!

Yabu - Netflix is supposed to be a "per household" service, so 4 screens should be more than enough for one household at one time and if it isn't then theoretically you should all be in the same place and so could ask people to turn off/watch later/watch together etc pretty easily.

Netflix was never intended to be a service where one person signs up and then gives it to all of their friends for free ... they're in the business of making money after all. Obviously Netflix aren't idiots so they know some sharing of accounts goes on but in order to offset that you have to pay a higher premium for the concurrent access. Why would they reduce the people using the premium tier by giving them the ability to "override" other users at the basic level instead?

I agree with the OP. I think there should be a “kick off” function. But we ended up just changing the password, cos I got sick of not being able to watch my own Netflix whenever I wanted.

It was never going to be practical for four people who use it heavily every day to share. There really shouldn't be any issue with you asking them to split the cost for premium.

Your password has probably been shared with others

It’s such a small cost so tell them to just pay for their own, boot them off, change your password and refuse to share it

I’ve never understood why grown adults expect to be able to get something for free that someone else is paying for!

If it’s your own children (as in actual children not adult offspring) I would just pay for multiple screens so all of you can watch it, but if you can’t afford to do that then YANBU to say as the bill payer you get priority.

@Netflixwoes

Other watchers:

2 family members and one friend.

I could change my password, but I actually don't mind them watching it most of the time (when I don't want to watch it myself!).

Two family members can pay £4 for the privilege and the friend can er, do one?!

If you only watch it occasionally, and they all watch it constantly, why are you the one paying for it?

I have an app that means I can pause or turn off the WiFi of anyone else in the house

What's that, your WiFi has gone down? What a shame, mine is working fine.

Why are you paying for a friend to have Netflix?

We use a friend's account (pay half), friend lets us know when she really wants to watch something and vice versa, and we shoo the kids off as needed.

Netflix win as neitherof us would bother subscribing alone.

The problem with changing the password or logging out is that it boots everyone off (and then I have to help them sign back in on various devices). I want to be able to pick who gets booted! (it would 100% be DH)

Usually I do it by stealth. I log into the router and turn the internet off, then back on, then off. So DH thinks there’s a technical problem with the internet and he’s not surprised when it stops working completely. Then when he gives up trying to watch, I turn it back on and watch it myself. And he isn’t annoyed at me for booting him off because he doesn’t even know what’s happened.

Even if you ask others to contribute to the monthly payment, surely you’ll still find yourself in a situation where others are signed in and you are locked out… only with less ‘right’ to kick anyone else out.

I would just keep my password to myself to be honest. And as another person suggested, if you do let someone share then be up front about saying that as the payer you get first dibs.

I suppose it’s a little trickier as you are already in the situation. But it shouldn’t be… if they are happy to use your account, then they should be close enough and respectful enough of you, so just say - this arrangement isn’t really working for me any more as I keep getting locked out. If you want to carry on using the account it will have to be only if/when there are enough licenses free.

If your friend wants netflix, they pay. Simple.

Maybe offer her a shower, so she doesn't have to use her own gas and electric.

YABU to expect a company to make up for you not having a spine

Yeah stop being a mug and you’ll be able to watch it whenever you want

Also @SilverOak, you’re sneaky. I like it

Er… I’m concerned that you think it’s tough love to insist you should have access to your own account. You said in your OP that you know YABU, but the thing is it’s NOT tough love. It’s not even confrontation. It’s completely normal. Asking them for a contribution would be normal, and kicking them all out and then if they ask saying, “Oh, I had to get a cheaper account that only lets one household watch now,” would also be normal. And ignore any responses, if you can’t handle it. They’d be cheeky fuckers to say ANYTHING since they’ve enjoyed your Netflix for free for X amount of time. Well, now it’s either not free or gone and that’s life but good grief OP no, that’s not tough love. Tough love is like… threatening to kick your young adult (18-20) out of the house if they don’t clean up their act, or something.

I don't think you understand Netflix!

The point of multiple accounts is to share within your own household (partner and kids), not to share with random friends and family members or neighbours

@hellcatspangle

We allow our elderly mothers access to our Netflix account - as we only generally watch in the evenings we've told them they can only watch in the daytime up until 6pm (they are perfectly happy with that)

You shot yourself in the foot by giving access to your friend, you need to boot her off or ask her to text you before she wants to use the account.

Gosh.

Do you charge them for your time and petrol when you visit as well?

It would depend on who's using it. My brother paid for Netflix for a few years...I use it, my parents and his best friend. When lockdown hit last year and he was out of work, I logged in and switched the payment card to mine. It's my turn - he's paid enough.

Hey guys, I’ve dropped Netflix subscription leve so don’t get 4 screens anymore. Sorry!!

The main account holder needs to grow some main account holder cojones. When the main account holder is a doormat the main account holder does not get to watch Netflix.

Log them out, and get in there before them. Feign ignorance.