Netflix: Apple users should adjust their payment method

The Apple ID was previously considered a tried and tested means of payment for regular Netflix subscriptions. This is now a thing of the past. The streaming service has asked subscribers with this payment method to switch to a different payment method. Anyone who fails to do so will be kicked out of Netflix.

Netflix insists on direct payment by email

Apparently Netflix no longer wants third parties to intervene in the payment of subscription fees to the streaming service. This applies in particular to payment via Apple ID. The service has now contacted those customers directly and asked them to change their payment method. If you too have been paying via the Californian tech company’s payment service up to now, you will no doubt have received an email to this effect. In it, Netflix writes that Apple ID will be removed as a payment option in future without further ado.

The curious thing is that the streaming service is not really giving those affected much time to act. Instead, they should act immediately and make a change. Anyone who does not act in time will then lose their account without further ado. But what is the reason behind this? Many Netflix users have had a subscription to the streaming service for many years. Some subscribed via the corresponding iOS app on their iPhone or iPad. A few years ago, the Apple ID could be used as a payment method. This is no longer possible as the streaming service no longer wants to accept Apple’s conditions.

• More on the topic: Netflix: US subscribers’ reaction to measures against account sharing

No desire for commission

The threat of losing the subscription status is a significant bargaining chip that Netflix has up its sleeve. Many users still seem to be using the streaming service in its former ad-free basic version. The company no longer offers this. The basic version is now only available with ad breaks. So if you don’t want to watch ads, there is no alternative to switching to the 13 euro standard subscription. There is a very simple reason behind Netflix’s request. When paying via Apple ID, Apple acts as the payment service provider.

This means a high commission for the streaming service, which is not payable for other payment methods such as credit card or PayPal. The company has to pay a hefty 15 percent to the tech company. It is therefore quite understandable that Netflix has not been offering payment via the Apple service when taking out a subscription for years. Nevertheless, the service could have thought about its customers and given them a little more time to think about it. So if you want to keep your subscription status, you should act quickly now to avoid advertising or an extra charge.