• Acorn TV

Acorn TV

Overview

Acorn TV has a rating of 1.81 stars from 258 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Acorn TV most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and free trial problems. Acorn TV ranks 366th among TV Shows sites.

  • Service
    35
  • Value
    32
  • Shipping
    6
  • Returns
    15
  • Quality
    25

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
8
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • Acorn TV has probably the worst Customer Service of any company I've ever dealt with.
  • I only discovered this after I lost my credit card and the payment was rejected through Roko.
How would you rate Acorn TV?
Top Positive Review

“5 Star Channel - When Subscribed Through Prime”

Shai B.
12/19/22

I previously wrote a 1-star review of Acorn TV and would like to comment. I mentioned before that I enjoyed watching the series/movies that Acorn has to offer, but the service and streaming were a big minus. I subscribed for a year but could no longer view anything after 3 months. Customer service didn't respond. I have since subscribed to the Acorn TV Channel through Amazon Prime Video and am pleased to say there are no service issues. I would not recommend subscribing to Acorn directly. Acorn has a lot of series/movies worth watching. I plan to switch to another channel, like PBS, at some point. Switching channels back and forth offers plenty of viewing enjoyment. Acorn is now one of my favorite channels, as long as the subscription is through Prime Video. Oh, and eventually Acorn did issue me a full refund.

Top Critical Review

“Doesn't deserve any stars.”

Frances L.
2/9/24

If you get on at all, the videos stream through in seconds. Totally impossible to watch. Constantly does beyond video you want to watch to the next in the series with no way to go to the one you want. Doesn't matter though since plays in a couple of seconds instead of the 90 minute episode length. Then it says can't play videos because there are too many people using account, when there is only one person using one device.

Reviews (258)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (75) credit card (27)
Thumbnail of user francesl499
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 9th, 2024

If you get on at all, the videos stream through in seconds. Totally impossible to watch. Constantly does beyond video you want to watch to the next in the series with no way to go to the one you want. Doesn't matter though since plays in a couple of seconds instead of the 90 minute episode length. Then it says can't play videos because there are too many people using account, when there is only one person using one device.

Tip for consumers:
I have asked Acorn TV for help and receive none.

Products used:
could not use

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user g.mussell
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 16th, 2024

CAUTION: very sketchy company.
I signed up in November in response to an ad that said 1 week free trial then $5.99 per month. I signed up watched a show then cancelled later that day.
Last week I checked my credit card statement and found out after a week they charged my credit card $74.82.
I tried 3 times to contact them using the "contact us" option on their website. I heard nothing. I don't think it is functional. Yesterday I used the chat option. After an hour or so of chatting there was no result. The agent,Jesus, said there was nothing he could do. He said he could offer me a 40% discount but he could not give a refund. I asked if he could transfer me to someone who could. He said he would refer it to billing and the would email me. Today I got two emails from billing. One said they were sorry to lose me and my subscription was canceled. The next email said there are no refunds. Their contention is I signed up for a monthly subscription and the. Also signed up for an annual subscription. When I pointed out that no one would do that Jesus said maybe I "accidentally " subscribed. Still no refund.

Please be very careful if you do business with this company.

Products used:
None

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user terryo406
1 review
2 helpful votes
December 16th, 2023

I have an email from Acorn confirming my cancellation, but unbeknownst to me, Acorn started my account up again, and over years took hundreds of dollars from my account. When I threatened to call the police, someone contacted me and agreed I should get the money back, but it never happened.

Service
Thumbnail of user callumg22
1 review
3 helpful votes
October 23rd, 2023

I have been trying to ditch Acorn for 2 years now, they keep sending irrelevant form emails back in light of an explanation and pulling out another years subscription out of my bank and there is nothing I can do about it short of shutting down my bank account! Acorn sent me an email in January this year to say that they have cancelled my subscription but still they keep hauling the money out! I am beyond angry! Do not, I repeat, do not give these clowns your account number, you will live to regret it! PS,, my real rating of this business is minus 5!

Tip for consumers:
I think you have the gist of it in my review

Products used:
A service

Thumbnail of user johnmacleod603
1 review
2 helpful votes
October 13th, 2023

Diabolic and shambolic service who fleece customers it lets customers down without a support mechanism not to its credit

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user paulm3302
1 review
4 helpful votes
January 16th, 2022

Exceptionally bad video replay (with continuous stalling) which was not in line with YouTube performance at the same time so no a network issue. Low quality picture definition, and very [poor audio quality (Pie in the Sky), poor selection of shows "above Harlequin" grade. Oldenheim 12 was a great series, pity there are not more like it available on a performing delivery platform. Customer service response very poor. Not a streaming service to be recommended in any way.

Service
Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user co125
1 review
1 helpful vote
April 27th, 2023

We tried over several days to use a gift certificate for Acorn. The links they gave us were looped so we always came back to the same page. It seems they wanted our credit card info before letting us use the gift certificate. We never did manage to get our connection. Don't bother trying it...we cancelled it all. I would like to give it less than one star.

Tip for consumers:
no

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user scwallphd
1 review
2 helpful votes
April 5th, 2023

The billing service that is used by acorn TV is obviously a scam billing service. You may have to go to your bank and change your debit card account. They even are used to people flooding The zone with requests and they won't get back to you. They'll just ask you why you want to cancel. Right now I'm looking for the president of acorn TV and I'm going to start emailing his office.

Tip for consumers:
Because it's something with as high profile as acorn TV you wouldn't think that they would use a scam billing service. Amazon has them as part of their package and they advertise on YouTube for trial accounts. Both Amazon and YouTube need to be alerted that their reputations are being tainted by using this billing service

Products used:
Trial subscription for 7 days. Have been unable to cancel within the 7-Day time period. Look at the other reviews for acorn TV and you'll see everyone is having this problem. They are a scam billing service

Service
Returns
Thumbnail of user tomw1591
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 3rd, 2022
Verified purchase

We cancelled our subscription on Nov 11 and got a confirmation.
On Dec. 1st they charged our credit card.
So far I have made 3 requests to have the erroneous charge reversed - NO RESPONSE.
If not resolved by Dec 8, I will dispute the charge as fraudulent.

Tip for consumers:
There are just too many other good streaming sites. I wish they were better, I like competition to keep the prices down, but Acorn TV was not providing much content that was interesting for us.

After cancellation, they charged our credit card, and we get no response from "customer service".
Recommendation - Stay away.

Products used:
We used Acorn TV for about two months. Decided there wasn't much content on it that interested us, and decided to cancel.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user vh50
1 review
23 helpful votes
May 14th, 2020

Several shows have horrible quality picture. Customer service is non-existent. I contacted them several times with programming questions and after many weeks got an email stating that hopefully my problem was resolved by then, and if not, to open another ticket! They charge me different amounts each month. I was finally able to get them on Facebook Messenger but they refused to answer my question about being charged inaccurate amounts. Cancelling my subscription. Too much good competition from which to choose.

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user nataliec423
1 review
7 helpful votes
January 20th, 2022

A couple of months ago I took out an annual subscription to Acorn. I find I can't watch it on either my TV or via my Apple TV. I tried to contact Acorn for either a refund or help. They don't refund. Their service is hopeless - eg they gave me an American phone number to contact: I can't access that number from Australia. Their replies to my emails take days to arrive. I am very disappointed - what a waste of money.

Products used:
None

Service
Thumbnail of user michaelf3359
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
March 20th, 2022

I watch on a PC using a Browser and this is the issue.
1) You can't add or remove items into/from your watch list.
2) What you watch doesn't show up in your Recently Watched list.
3) Previously view episodes in a series are not underlined so you need to keep track yourself.
4) They only stream up to 560p.
5) They buffer constantly. (not a network issue)
In my own testing Safari Browser works the best as it's very efficient. Firefox is slow but can work ok but Chrome, what Acorntv recommends is the worst.
Acorntv knows all of this, I have spoken with then on the phone yet they won't fix any of it. They prefer you use their app or go through Prime Video and pay monthly. They make more money that way. There's no incentive to go through a browser and pay yearly for them.
I signed for year which ends next January … I won't renew. BritBox is a better choice.

Thumbnail of user danielaa25
13 reviews
49 helpful votes
January 19th, 2020

Missing episodes (Episode 1 not available at this time, why don't you watch Episode 2 and figure it out on your own). CC constantly messed up, displaying CC from previous episodes. Customer service sends automatic emails every 48 hours asking the customer if their problem was solved without actually checking that it was, therefore using us, the paying customers, as free testing engines.

Thumbnail of user dalyb1
1 review
2 helpful votes
December 31st, 2022
Verified purchase

Like many other reviewers, I have had terrible service from Acorn. They continued to bill my credit card for five months after I cancelled. I have had no responses from their customer service department, except one email that said "we hope your issue has been resolved". WHAT? I have all the documentation and hopefully will be able to get the charges reversed through my bank.

I am scratching my head wondering if the company is deliberately fraudulent, or if they just have really bad administrative systems. Considering that the mistakes are always in their favour, I sadly have to conclude that it's the former. I wish I had checked out reviews before subscribing.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user henryp227
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
June 30th, 2021

We got a 30 day trial via Amazon Prime and enjoyed watching several series start to finish. We were surprised that some episodes were not available to us, but thought that was because it was a trial. We started paying monthly, but discovered that many shows are not available to us "at this time". I don't know why Acorn would list shows on their guide, but not allow us access!
We have now unsubscribed, and strongly recommend to anyone who asks to avoid Acorn TV.

Thumbnail of user claref31
1 review
6 helpful votes
April 1st, 2021

I signed up for this as I wanted to watch A Place to Call Home. I'd watched seasons 1-2 on Amazon Prime and signed up to acorn as it offered the whole series. Watched season 3 and then... you have to pay to watch the rest on top of your subscription. Toal rip off. Lousy customer experience - and the picture quality was poor. Shame on you!

Products used:
Acorn TV rip off

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user darrellb262
1 review
2 helpful votes
November 28th, 2022

Watching tv should relaxing, but it is NOT with Acorn. Besides it being unreliable, causing you to repeatedly search for and restart series episodes multiple times before it continues, they advertise programming that is not actually available. Good luck getting a refund!

Thumbnail of user judes35
1 review
6 helpful votes
March 18th, 2021

Do Not Subscribe! Free trial lapsed before I found out that this product cannot be used on a Samsung Smart TV, there is sound only, no images! When I tried to unsubscribe, there is no facility to do so on their website. After I sent two emails, the answer came back " Unsubscribe through your iTunes account"... Well, I have never had an Itunes account. I have had to involve my bank for help. Do not use! Subscriptions from reliable companies should be simple and user friendly to cancel should you want.

Tip for consumers:
Check that you can use, if not can you cancel your subscription!

Products used:
Cannot use product on my smart tv.

Service
Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user davidc6548
1 review
1 helpful vote
July 18th, 2022

Advertises as having British show similar to Britbox. Acorn TV is not available in North Queensland and I have wasted my modest pension money on this scam.

Thumbnail of user charlesh2567
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 17th, 2022

We received an amex offer to see acorn, amex would reimburse $3 a month for so many months then would be $6,99 i believe, my wife and i are seniors, i got acorn for her, when my wife was asked to login she thought service was discontinued, we didnt look at our amex bills, we just paid them, turned out we were billed for 3 or 4 months, when i asked customer service for a credit, lady said waited too long, we have apple tv and paramount courtesy of tmobile, different level of customer satisfaction

Thumbnail of user susanh1166
1 review
20 helpful votes
April 11th, 2020

Acorn offers an impressive selection of British tv series but only the current season is included in your subscription. Earlier seasons are available only through iTunes at $2.99 an episode or $14.99 per season, as we discovered in the series "Vera". The same proved to be true for other offerings. Decided to cancel after first viewing session and truly disappointed that iTunes is in on the deal. Now hoping the cancellation will actually go through without continued billing to my credit card, as has apparently happened with many other disappointed customers.

Thumbnail of user terrip275
2 reviews
4 helpful votes
December 4th, 2022
Verified purchase

My husband bought me a year's subscription a week ago- Thank you for your Acorn TV Gift Membership purchase on November 29,2022. You'll receive an email shortly with more details on how to deliver your gift(s).---NEVER RECEIVED THAT EMAIL & THE COMPANY IS UNRESPONSIVE.

Products used:
It is a service which I paid for & received nothing but an email and a great deal of aggrevation.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user wesk34
1 review
4 helpful votes
March 19th, 2021

Received a year's subscription to Acorn as a gift. It worked great for the first month. Shows we watched were excellent. Second month Acorn stopped loading on our PC to stream to the TV. Emailed Acorn support, they sent instructions that we followed. After those scripted responses failed, they continued sending the same instructions even though we told them nothing they suggested were working.

Since we cannot view anything anymore, we were going to cancel, but found "no refunds allowed". So, we're stuck with having a loved one waste their money on a subscription we can't use.

Reading other reviews, we're afraid that even when we cancel near the end of the year, Acorn will still automatically charge for another year of non-service.

We have absolutely no problems streaming other videos or streaming services. After being really happy with the quality of programming and quality streaming at the beginning; now my advice, steer clear of this rip-off.

Thank You

Service
Value
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user melliec7
1 review
3 helpful votes
April 27th, 2022

Great viewing options, but IT NEVER WORKS. I would love to be able to watch it but the constant restarting makes it very stressful. My internet connection is not the problem. I can do anything else I want online, but Acorn is just too much trouble. Causes more stress than entertainment or relaxation.

Thumbnail of user lynetteh28
1 review
17 helpful votes
January 3rd, 2020

Cancelled a week before the renewal date. Crap content and can't be bothered.
Bought through Google play.
They tried to get me a refund. Apparently despite my cancellation. Which Google play logged. Acorn stole money from me
Now I have to access their help. Acorn doesn't help. They say they open a ticket then next day say rate their help in resolving my issue!
Eyeroll.
Do not get this app

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From the business

Acorn TV is a subscription streaming service offering the best British TV on-demand, commercial free. Shows include favorites like Poirot, Marple, Midsomer Murders, Vera, Foyle's War, Doc Martin, Jack Irish, Agatha Raisin, The Level, and many more. Fre...

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AcornTV T.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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