Billing Frustration

Was just online tonight and we had popped a VNM T3 in Abyssea. Once you pop it, the abyssite for it breaks... and as the NM was about half dead, we INSTA-DC from FFXI. SE billed our accounts and I have yet to figure out how to configure it to just automatically bill/pay from a credit card or even with crsyta. Any advice on this from others who I am sure have had similar frustrations with the new POL billing? The cherry on the top of the whole mess is that I cannot use my credit card directly. An error message appears yet when I buy crysta with it, it works fine. :( x.x

P.S. Didn't even bother to pay for FFXI again seeing as this is the 3rd time the billing DC has aggravated me...

Yeah this happens to me every 30 days.

For one, calling it the "new POL billing" is not quite right since all the account management was moved from PlayOnline to Square Enix Account Management System. ^^;

As far as for advice goes, not much that one can do for you. You should explore the Account Management System and understand it. The earlier you get familiar with it, the better, I'd say. If you have selected Crysta as the payment method, as long as your Crysta balance is high enough for the fees, it will automagically be used.

I 'load' enough for one payment every 30 days or a bit before, and I have not had a single issue with it during the year(?) or so that I have been using it (I transferred to it when it first became available).

I have not used the other methods, so I wont say anything about those, except for ClipandDye which I tried to register with quite some time ago, and would not recommend to any one.


Just some thoughts~
Good luck!

How is it so hard to figure out how to set up continous payment? its simple...

Just register your credit card under Register/Update Payment Method on the left side menu.

Then go to select service, select FFXI, then click options list. Reactivate your character, and choose the credit card payment method. You're done.

(The reason you have to pick it again is you can have different payment methods for each service account if you want.)

However, if you didn't wait until the last minute to make sure your account was funded for the next billing cycle, you wouldn't have gotten disconnected and you wouldn't have had any frustration.

I have canceled my account w/ "ClicknSnatch", which is on "hold" for a few more days (guess it's kind of in /shutdown mode), so I can finally switch back to my Visa then. No more foreign transaction fees :)

As far as I know you don't have to wait for account closure with them before you can use a different payment method on your SE account.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

As far as I know you don't have to wait for account closure with them before you can use a different payment method on your SE account.

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I tried switching it over to my Visa (also tried with another's Visa) but to no avail... so there may be a hold on it somewhere. I've already revoked C+B's access as well. SE's Account Management system kept giving me an error, but I'll keep trying at it...

it also may be due to them running registration maintenance. Certain processes won't go through during this time frame.

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Originally Posted by RAIST

it also may be due to them running registration maintenance. Certain processes won't go through during this time frame.

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Only it should have no effect on those who transferred to the SqEXAMS. ^^;

Or at least that is what they every time tout about ever since it was conceived.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

How is it so hard to figure out how to set up continous payment? its simple...

Just register your credit card under Register/Update Payment Method on the left side menu.

Then go to select service, select FFXI, then click options list. Reactivate your character, and choose the credit card payment method. You're done.

(The reason you have to pick it again is you can have different payment methods for each service account if you want.)

However, if you didn't wait until the last minute to make sure your account was funded for the next billing cycle, you wouldn't have gotten disconnected and you wouldn't have had any frustration.

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Theoretically easy. But every month it still deactivates my characters. The only way to ensure continuous service is to keep an additional month's worth of crysta up. C&B works sometimes but not always. Paypal has never worked for me. Credit card worked the first time when I set up continuous billing but never after that. It's a pain in the ass, and neither my credit card nor paypal have reported anything on their end when I call.

Paypal is not continuous pay--that is for on-demand purchasing. You have to set up with C&B, GPI, or keep your Crysta account filled up in advance for any kind of continuous payment (they will notify you up to a week in advance of when billing will take place so you can add Crysta if needed). Some were having issues setting up GPI because of blocked communication during the verification phase. It was likely due to cross-site scripting--which is often disable by default--or because security software is blocking the server because the call did not originate from the user's system, but SE's server (things like software based firewalls and some routers may do this, have to whitelist the GPI server). It wasn't an issue with their cards or anything, but a communication issue because of the user's security settings/software/devices.

Oh yeah, I was talking about reactivating. For continuous pay I've tried both credit card and c&b and neither has allowed for uninterrupted service.

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Theoretically easy. But every month it still deactivates my characters. The only way to ensure continuous service is to keep an additional month's worth of crysta up.

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I'm not talking about Crysta. There is a new, non-Click'n'Buy way to pay by credit card. Why don't you just use that?

That doesn't work either. Error 601.

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Originally Posted by Tazz

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You need to refill your account with Crystal before the renew date. Manually. Make it easy and buy 4K Crysta, then you're good for 4 months.

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Originally Posted by detlef

That doesn't work either. Error 601.

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That sounds like the browser/system security problem I mentioned earlier. There was a discussion about this very problem in another thread a while back:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...yment-Options?

SE claims to have fixed the problem with Error 601, yet I still get it when trying to switch to my Visa card (just tried again yesterday). Something's not right....

Bumpity bump bump.

SO. Same situation as 4-01, wondering if anyone else has run into this string of events...

- Revoked access for, and closed C&B account just before the end of March, it is gone now. SE account is still locked on it as payment method.
- Been trying to switch my SE account over to Visa "direct pay" throughout the month, not too often as to cause lockouts or anything. We have tried:

- My card, on my PC: Nope. Error 601.
- Another's card on my account, which works with their account: Nope. Error 601.
- My card, on another's PC, to rule out OS issue (I have Win7 x64): Nope. Error 601.
- Note: We all have cards from the same exact bank and mine is the only one not working
- Called support on 4-25, advised to wait 24 hrs and try again, if still not working, then try Crysta.
- If Crysta purchases use the same server as the "direct pay", wouldn't I still be SOL? ^^;;
- Already have tried full cleanout of cache/cookies/disk cleanup, defrag, restarts and the like.
- Browsers used: Firefox, Chrome and IE. No pop-ups or alerts on this GPI server that I need to whitelist, so I can't let it in if it doesn't "knock on the door"

Has anyone else had these problems? ^^;

Edit: Tested Crysta method. Apparently the only ways to pay for it are C+B and Ultimate Pay? HUH?

Why not just go to a 7-11 and buy a $20 Game Card. It's a red card they use for online games. When you go into Add Crystas once u get to select the payment choices click on "Others" it will bring up the card I am talking about. You type in the card Number and it will add the crysta usually once u refresh the page. (No credit card needed) Plus with the Visa problem for some reason numerous banks don't like Square Enix billing so they usually block them. Hope this helps and have fun gaming.

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Ultimate Pay?

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UltimatePay is owned by VISA. It's perfectly safe and easy to use. You can simply enter a credit card, or you can use paypal, or you can use Ultimate Game Cards, which are sold in stores. You didn't "test" it if you didn't actually buy any. Going there and saying "oh, no way i'm using ultimate pay, a perfectly useable and safe payment method!" is not testing.

You don't need an account for it like with C&B, and there's no international BS involved.

Have you filed a ticket with SE support about the error 601? I've never gotten an error like that.

I have read that Ultimate Pay incurs extra fees depending on payment method and amount of Crysta. Just what I got out of C&B to avoid ^.^

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You didn't "test" it if you didn't actually buy any.

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Perhaps test was the wrong word. I actually would have been able to test it if I was given something other than C&B and Ultimate Pay, both of which claim to charge extra depending on the purchase amount, to pay (I have heard Paypal is an option, and debit card, which isn't even working for me in the first place) ^^;

What I really don't understand:

One household, 3 cards, same bank, all VISAs, mine is the only one not working....

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I have read that Ultimate Pay incurs extra fees depending on payment method and amount of Crysta

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It does charge a fee for purchasing large amounts. It does not charge a fee for what your subscription costs. Buy 12.95. Use credit card. Pay 12.95. No fees. I used this method until the credit card option was introduced. Follow these directions and you will pay no fees, ever.

What you "hear" isn't always accurate.

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One household, 3 cards, same bank, all VISAs, mine is the only one not working....

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Are you absolutely 100% unequivocally positive that there is absolutely no problems on your account? no holds, not past date, all that kind of yada yada?

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Are you absolutely 100% unequivocally positive that there is absolutely no problems on your account? no holds, not past date, all that kind of yada yada?

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Funds are good, no alerts or anything pending, going tomorrow to the local branch in person to make doubly sure, just in case. :o

I've just recently had a problem with C&B as well, albeit a different one. Apparently, my C&B account has 2 emails registered to it, so they blocked my entire account and are now requiring a scanned photo ID, a form notarized, and my credit card number. I emailed them four days ago and just got this reply today. Absolutely absurd. I will be calling them tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Savlyn

I've just recently had a problem with C&B as well, albeit a different one. Apparently, my C&B account has 2 emails registered to it, so they blocked my entire account and are now requiring a scanned photo ID, a form notarized, and my credit card number. I emailed them four days ago and just got this reply today. Absolutely absurd. I will be calling them tomorrow.

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Wow. Hopefully they can make things right. I do not plan on going back to C&B...

I sent them an email saying just to cancel both of the accounts and got an auto-reply back. So I doubt I'd hear from them for another half a week if I didn't call.

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Originally Posted by Savlyn

I sent them an email saying just to cancel both of the accounts and got an auto-reply back. So I doubt I'd hear from them for another half a week if I didn't call.

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Gotta love auto-replies :p

The error 601 thing tells me to "check the status of any relevant options and try again" though all of my options are in order, as far as I know. C&B is deactivated and all, and SE just doesn't want to take my moneys "directly" :(

Only other thing I can think of causing the problem is the card itself, and i need a new one or something. I really don't think it's going to fix it though. SE has no problems with Visas, just MY Visa o.O;

Lately, Japan has been enforcing a lot of policies when it comes to credit card charges, specifically international charges, due to increased forgery and identity theft issues.

"Direct" credit card payments are highly unlikely to work properly, which seems to be the major issue here. Although it does not always affect -every- card, it is usually difficult to "fix" the issue and allow a card to work.

If I may... have you considered using Crysta to pay for your subscription?

You can also go through Playspan and just buy your UGC codes online through them. They have a bunch of payment methods they accept there. When I added my first batch of Crysta with a UGC card code, it prompted me to link to a Playspan account. I got a free 100 UP for linking (idk if they are still offering that or not). That translated to $1 USD for the purpose of Crysta. With the next code, it polled that 100 UP and allowed me to add that, so I got $21 for my next $20 code.

They also have things on their site for earning bonus UP. Sometimes they will give bonuses up to 25% extra when you buy a code through the site (at Christmas, got $22 codes for $20). Each time you add a UGC code, it will poll any UP on your Playspan account and give you the option to add it as well (so a $20 code can net you an extra $1 worth of Crysta for every 100 UP in your playspan account that you earn through the website).

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Originally Posted by Llana_Virren

If I may... have you considered using Crysta to pay for your subscription?

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I tried to go pay for some Crysta, but the only payment options it gives me are C&B (lol), or UltimatePay. I hear Paypal and debit cards can be used (my Visa is actually a debit card), but neither of those were listed.

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Originally Posted by Midorikaze

I tried to go pay for some Crysta, but the only payment options it gives me are C&B (lol), or UltimatePay. I hear Paypal and debit cards can be used (my Visa is actually a debit card), but neither of those were listed.

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UltimatePay will offer you a variety of options.
If you have not tried that, I would suggest you look into it (it's what I use to pay for my Crysta-nonsense).

Again, Ultimate Game Card Code is the most reliable method for getting your Crysta. Be that from a physical card you buy from Gamestop, Walmart, CVS, etc. or directly from Playspan.com. Punch in the code and you have your Crysta. Done.

http://store.playspan.com/ultimate-game-card

They claim to have 85 methods of payment. Pick one, get your code, get your Crysta.

At the bottom of the page is a banner ad about where to get a physical card--graphic shows Walmart, CVS, Riteaid, 7-Eleven, etc. If you click the banner, it takes you to a page where you can enter your US zipcode and it will pull up a map marking stores where you can find the cards locally. You might have to adjust the zoom level to see the markers, depending on how many stores are in your area. Mine has about 12 of them all over town, so the zoom level was really high and I had to zoom in to start seeing the pins on the map.

If you aren't in the US, click the "Where to Buy" link up top, and under the new map there are links to Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong, other areas. I'll even save you the trouble of going through all the pages, here's the main "Where to Buy" page:

http://ultimategamecard.playspan.com/ugcstores

I may try that...getting an actual game card in-store, that is. I still don't understand why my Visa isn't working while everyone else's in the same house is working, but I've tried everything else to get around it, and Crysta might be my only option. I'm just confused by it all :(

It seems no matter what the solution is, I'm not jumping through any less hoops just to give SE my money...

Just someone else's set of hoops.

IMHO, SE is being very selective on which cards are able to be authorized for payments, and it seems to be getting harder to even pay them for service, which is beyond me. :confused:

To be “fair”, it's not SqEX who decides on them cards etc., not any longer at least methinks. ^^;

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Originally Posted by Dragoy

To be “fair”, it's not SqEX who decides on them cards etc., not any longer at least methinks. ^^;

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You're probably right, lol. It's this "Global Pay Inc." or GPI or whatever the name of the company is, that handles the online authorizations, maybe.
Granted, I won't have FFXI tied to my bank account with Crysta, but it's still a hassle :o
But as long as UP or UGC do not surcharge me, I won't complain.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I'm not talking about Crysta. There is a new, non-Click'n'Buy way to pay by credit card. Why don't you just use that?

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tried to register credit card with click and buy linked to my account: error

unlinked account and tried to register my card again: error

am i error?

Glad to see I am not the only one who is having this issue. Mine was supposed to be set up on autopay every 30 days. This is the 2nd month in a row that SE has just decided not to run the card on file and my account is deactived. I don't get it. It worked for the first 2 or 3 months. Now all the sudden, no more.

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Originally Posted by Midorikaze

I may try that...getting an actual game card in-store, that is. I still don't understand why my Visa isn't working while everyone else's in the same house is working, but I've tried everything else to get around it, and Crysta might be my only option. I'm just confused by it all :(

It seems no matter what the solution is, I'm not jumping through any less hoops just to give SE my money...

Just someone else's set of hoops.

IMHO, SE is being very selective on which cards are able to be authorized for payments, and it seems to be getting harder to even pay them for service, which is beyond me. :confused:

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SE isn't the ones doing the processing.

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Originally Posted by Elexia

SE isn't the ones doing the processing.

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Indeed, it's another company. And whoever they are, they don't like my debit card :\

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Originally Posted by Midorikaze

Indeed, it's another company. And whoever they are, they don't like my debit card :\

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At that point, I just went with ultimatepay since i was having issues with direct CC/paypal. UP works perfectly if it's a available to you and you don't mind paying a few cents extra a month (since if you don't specify exact amount of crysta, you can end up with some left over.)