Netflix Charges

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While reviewing my bank statement one day, I noticed a charge from iTunes in the amount of $7.99. I thought it was strange because I hadn't purchased anything from iTunes. A few months later while checking my bank statement, I noticed the iTunes charge again and it was for the same amount, $7.99. I made a mental note to look further into this but as it tends to happen, I got busy and forgot about it. Months later as I am checking my bank statements again, I noticed another charge for $7.99 only this time, the charge was from "apple.com". Again, due to the small dollar amount, I disregarded it. I was navigating through the Settings on my iPhone and discovered the Purchase History section. As I thumbed through this section, I noticed that this was a record of every app I had ever installed on my iPhone dating back to the time I first purchased my iPhone 5c in 2014. I had no idea how iCloud worked and didn't realize that once I purchased that first iPhone and set up my iCloud account, that it would record and store everything I purchased or downloaded onto my Apple device beginning the minute I created my iCloud account.

Anyways, while thumbing through my Purchase History, I noticed the Netflix app and was able to see the month and year I installed it on my phone, March 2014. The Purchase History also shows a dollar value for what I pay for each app. For Netflix, this charge was $0.00. The app purchase for Netflix never appeared again until November 2017 and this time, $7.99 appeared next to it. Every now and then when I would review my Purchase History after November 2017, I would notice the Netflix app icon and the $7.99 dollar value with it. When I tap on the Netflix line item, it would take me to the Order Details screen where I could see the form of payment used for the Netflix charge which was the debit card I had on file with Netflix to pay for my existing subscription. I use to be able to tap within the Order Details screen again and a third screen would appear with a purchase summary which included the name of the "Seller" which was the name of someone I had no association with. I figured it was the app developer. I began to wonder if the "apple.com" line item on my bank statements for $7.99 were for these charges for Netflix appearing on my phone. Too much of a coincidence not to be one in the same so I pulled my bank statement and found that there was a line item for Netflix for $8.99, as prices had gone up, and a separate line item for apple.com for $8.99 as well.

This time I knew that the Netflix line item I found under the Purchase History on my phone and the "apple.com" line item on my bank statements were definitely one in the same. I couldn't figure out though, why Apple would be charging me for a Netflix subscription when I was already paying for the Netflix service directly to Netflix? Why did these charges from "apple.com" begin in November 2017 when I installed the app in March 2014? Most importantly, why was I not notified that a second account had been activated on my behalf? How is it even possible for a second account to be created if the account already exists and HOW is it LEGAL for that account to be charged??? I found a phone number for Apple on Google and called them. I asked the representative if Apple was acquiring Netflix, she said "No". I asked about the "apple.com" charges to my bank account and the representative confirmed that the charges were for a Netflix subscription. I asked why the account was created. She told me it was for the app installed on my phone. I told her I installed the app in March 2014 in which I signed into the app using my existing username and password. So I asked how a second Netflix account could be created if the account already existed? The representative advised me that there was no way for Apple to know I didn't already have a Netflix account.

I found this unbelievable! First of all, Apple creates intelligence apps that almost have the ability to think before the user does. Secondly, most online platforms have security measures in place that prevent users from accidentally creating duplicate accounts if the account already exists by throwing an error message that states the account already exists! I find it inconceivable for a company like Apple to not have these security measures in order to prevent this very thing! It was suggested that I was careless with my account information and someone else was using my information. That's not the case because Netflix provides the ability to see where my account was being used anywhere in the US providing an approximate location through the Settings menu. Only my home and mobile. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this problem and what you did to correct it. Thank you.