Petition: clickandbuy the only way no,thanks.

[Alukat]

2000 crysta costs 20€ (at SE page)

payment methods and prices:

Ultimate game card: 30.38$
Webmoney 30.38$
Ukash 20,87€
ELV (germany) 21.61€ > redirected to paybycash
Moneybookers 20€
Wallie-card 23.84€
Giropay (moneybookers) 20€
instant transfer (moneybookers) 20€
paypal 20€
paysafecard 21,31€

as u can see u always have to sign in for a 3rd party and some of them are charging extra money.

dear SE what are u doing to us? -.-

my page 3 quote.
EU based.

[drwaffles]

/signed

What SE needs to realise is that a large number of players only keep their direct debit going out of habit. They might only log in a few times a month (like me) or use XI as a chatroom at this point, and these sorts of players are unlikely to bother paying any more if they have to remember to do it manually. This isn't even taking into account the cumbersome nature of the new system or the fact that Crysta is a blatantly cynical money-grab.

I know for a fact that if the billing system wasn't automated then I would have paid significantly less in subscription fees over the last year, so I'm fairly sure they won't be getting much money off me at all through 2011/12.

[Orlind]

SE said in the transfer document somewhere that each region will be billed using that region's currency so for the EU players, they will be billed using Euro's so they would not have incur this additional charges. Now, whether or not they have actually set that up correctly or not, I have absolutely no idea.

I have no doubts that SE would try to smooth over the fees in this manner. However, having to deal with ClickAndBuy indirectly for years, I can say that even they break their own rules far more often than other payment processors I've had to deal with.

So maybe I'm not in a habit of trusting them (or most other payment processors for that matter).

[Vivik]

What Dreamin says is true of course and is how many 3rd party payment processors work should they allow for direct payments (which they will as to attract clients).

However should there be any disputes, I will feel pity for the poor souls that have to deal with their support centre staff.

I called with some questions about my verification earlier and it took a half hour for someone to pick up the phone. Then I get the typical Indian rep on the phone and I can't understand a damn thing they are saying. Needless to say I ended up just getting some crysta but I don't think I will be continuing with my sub after Sept. 1st. It's just too much of a hassle having to jump through hoops to play twice a week.

[ceown]

So I finally registered to post this, as I myself refuse to use C&B, and I hate overpaying for a service as it limits if I wanted to take time off or even quit the game entirely.

TLDR; Look at the bottom and complain.

Had a chat with a rep (Typos are all mine):

You: My primarly complaint is that i refuse to use clink and buy due to their reuputation, and i'm very much annoyed at having to buy crysta in 500 increments instead of the exact amount. Is there plans to offer exact amounts or will we be forced to over pay every month? If so, where can i officaly complain?
You: er... Click and buy. Not clink.
Agent Robert P: I apologize but those are the available payment methods for FINAL FANTASY XI. Any unused Crysta can be used for future payments, but at this time it is not possible to purchase Crysta in the amount you requested.
Agent Robert P: You can submit Feedback on the SQUARE ENIX Support Center, select FFXI to bring up the FFXI support page, then go to Contact at the top.
You: So then it's a choice between a shady company, and being forced to over pay. Great. Whats the likleyhood my complaint will actually get any feedback?
Agent Robert P: All Feedback submissions are reviewed, but there are no responses.
You: What is the likelyhood about having specific crysta amounts added if there was suffcent demand?
Agent Robert P: If any changes are planned then an update will likely be posted in the news section of Account Management and on PlayOnline.com
You: Hm. Well that concludes my questions. I can't say I'm happy about the answers and that the company has probably just lost itself a customer.
You: Thank you for your time. You may consider the ticket resolved.
Agent Robert P: Thank you for visiting the SQUARE ENIX Support Center! Take care and hope to see you online!

In short: Complain. Off the main POL page hit services and support (left side midish way down.) Then go to Contact at the top, and select feedback.
They *might* then add a specific amount if enough people complain, and or quit.

I myself plan to let my account lapse until they add specific payments or add non scummy CC vendors.

[Byrth]

/signed

What SE needs to realise is that a large number of players only keep their direct debit going out of habit. They might only log in a few times a month (like me) or use XI as a chatroom at this point, and these sorts of players are unlikely to bother paying any more if they have to remember to do it manually. This isn't even taking into account the cumbersome nature of the new system or the fact that Crysta is a blatantly cynical money-grab.

I know for a fact that if the billing system wasn't automated then I would have paid significantly less in subscription fees over the last year, so I'm fairly sure they won't be getting much money off me at all through 2011/12.

I don't know if they realize what a huge part of the population (and a huge part of their pure profit) people like waffles are. They essentially pay for a service that they don't use, and they'd keep paying for it if it wasn't for SE basically canceling their accounts for them.

[mistmonster]

/signed

What SE needs to realise is that a large number of players only keep their direct debit going out of habit. They might only log in a few times a month (like me) or use XI as a chatroom at this point, and these sorts of players are unlikely to bother paying any more if they have to remember to do it manually. This isn't even taking into account the cumbersome nature of the new system or the fact that Crysta is a blatantly cynical money-grab.

I know for a fact that if the billing system wasn't automated then I would have paid significantly less in subscription fees over the last year, so I'm fairly sure they won't be getting much money off me at all through 2011/12.

This is so true for me. I have been paying for friends accounts for years whether they used them or not. I'm not fussing with this every month, SE. That's like 4 accounts who never give you problems or barely even play.

[Karbuncle]

I think its wishful thinking to expect anything of Square at this point. Its almost painfully obvious they're trying to kill the game in hopes when FFXI dies we move on to their sinking ship FFXIV and make it more popular.

[Orlind]

On a sidenote, anyone thinking that Crysta was only ever used for FFXI and FFXIV and think that SE will refund you when FFXI goes down can put that idea right out your head.

It has already been used for products and services besides these two games in the past (the S-E Members from when Dissidia first arrived in the US can attest to that). Also, the products and services available for Crysta can (and probably will since more will use it now) grow before FFXI is ever shut down. IF S-E has any brains, they will branch out and the same thing will happen as with Halo 2 shutting down.

[Alukat]

I think its wishful thinking to expect anything of Square at this point. Its almost painfully obvious they're trying to kill the game in hopes when FFXI dies we move on to their sinking ship FFXIV and make it more popular.

i just said goodbye to all my friends and ls mates. i'll just come back if i can pay SE directly (or via pol again, never had issues with them in the last 5 years).

SE should have invested the money to make a remake of ffvii/viii or ix instead of developing a complete new game (aka ffxiv)

i always loved the battlesystem,materia-sytem and story in vii