Petition: clickandbuy the only way no,thanks.

[Jile]

clickandbuy is garbage.

My wife and I pay on two different credit cards and use two different tokens (some how she thought my mouth might get me banned some day and didn't want her account banned with me).

Registered my account with clickandbuy and linked it fine to my account.

Registered my wife's account with clickandbuy and they put a hold on it. We called and they want printouts of checking account and utility bills to verify she resides at this address. So I had them pull up my account and verified she lives here but that's not enough..... so, the only way I can setup payment without giving clickandbuy information I wouldn't give anyone else is to cancel my wife's token and link her to my account then I can have billing work.

Total BS!

For anyone calling, I was told there are no supervisor's working after 1700 London time... so my call at noon PST was too late today to talk to one.

[Kagato]

Paypal would be an excellent payment method.

[Jile]

I would be glad to setup a payment with paypal ~ while they do have shady issues of their own, I'd take them over clickandbuy.

[Panthera]

Finally a response, thanks SE, just try and be a bit quicker when there is obviously a huge outcry...either way good to hear that you are hearing us

Their quote was a re-post from a response from last week.

Well, at least they're still communicating with us. I figured they'da worked on it last week and over the weekend, and come out with an annoucement of the fix today. I guess they need more time yet.

Just say patient fellas, they're working on it.

May their solution be satisfactory.

[Sasaraixx]

For those of us that have not transferred yet, are we okay for the August payment? I noticed today that my account had not been charged today. I was hoping to hold out for a bit in hopes that another option might become available before the 31st of August.

[Karbuncle]

For what its worth, we have to understand the Reps here aren't in contact with Square Enix, they're in contact with the Development team for FFXI.

And im sure it was not the Dev teams choice to make this new billing system, it was likely the higher ups. The reps can only respond with the info they're given (like specifics), But i doubt they can get to a higher-up SE official and ask them to change it.

Edit: Which seems to not be true based on the previous Rep post in this thread. hurray for me missing it!

[RAIST]

Just wanted to copy this here to make sure you guys saw our post on the FAQ thread:


Please continue to provide your feedback, it is continually added to our discussions.

Thanks for the effort Hvinire, but Matt's post has already been referenced and quoted. And, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but it really does nothing to encourage us that anything is being considered that would actually rectify the situation. I'm not trying to single you or any of the moderators out with this post--I know how your hands are tied as I have worked support for a private software firm that was responsible to corporate and government entities and I know the rock-in-a-hard-place spot you guys are left with So please if I offend, I do not mean to. I just feel the need to put something on record detailing how I and many others view this situation in one post that you may be able to forward up the chain of command that are governing the flow of information, as well as those making the determinations for development that directly affect the issues at hand.

One of the biggest problems people have with this change is the disparity between the billing options between JP region and all other regions. For YEARS SE has preached both regional and platform equality within the scope of FFXI. This decision to continue this option for one specific region with no explanation for why it has been denied to everyone else just simply contradicts SE's past declarations in regard to balance. SE REALLY needs to make a definitive statement on just WHY this decision was made--and whether they are looking to rectify that SPECIFIC issue, not just the billing processes in general as they did with Matt's post. This is gearing up to be one of the biggest Public Relations blunders I have seen in a loooong time. This has the potential to have a long term affect on SE's bottom line--it potentially can affect not only FFXI revenues in the short term, but also the revenues of all other current and future projects. It's just human nature...once bitten, twice shy. Just look at what has happened with the distrust over Click&Buy in the corporate world that has filtered into the distrust of the consumers for a recent example.

It is known that SE is capable of processing credit card payments for the other regions (as evidenced by their online stores). It is also known that SE knows how to bill those credit cards specifically for FFXI subscription fees (as evidenced by how long it's been done through POL). It is known that they have come up with a way to accept the credit card information through the SE account pages (as evidenced by the JP regional transfer guide).

Taking all that into account, it would appear to the general public that SE has all the pieces to the puzzle already to make the direct pay credit card option available to the other regions. Granted, there may be some issues in making all the pieces fit now as things are getting restructured with moving to a different database, maybe new PCI-DSS requirements, or FSA regulations and what-not. If so, why can't SE let you guys pass that one.

All we're asking for is a little more information than...we are aware of the comments... it's a work in progress. How about something more along the lines of.... we are aware of the players concerns of issues with credit card processing but due to specific difficulties we are unable to continue this service for all regions, but we are looking into alternative solutions to the problem.

As it stands right now....many are just throwing their hands in the air and not expecting anything to be done about it. This is doing NOTHING to encouraging people to give you guys the benefit of the doubt and the possibility of a mass exodus from either just FFXI or Square-Enix in general is increasing daily with the silence. If they could at the very least release a statement that clearly states they are putting forth a best effort attempt to provide this direct-pay by credit card to all regions, it would salvage a LOT of pending loss of revenue. There are many that may opt to continue subscribing via Crysta in the short term if they know they stand a reasonable chance to go back to directly billing their credit cards.

Please... just let us know exactly where SE stands on this issue. And don't be afraid to divulge the specifics. Trust me...even if it is just a cost issue with maintaining the service, you might be surprised by how many might be willing to pay slightly more for the added convenience and security. If you don't believe me, here is a real-life example:

A firm I worked for developed a front end for processing tax payments online. The counties would always balk at the credit card processing fees from the clearing houses and did not want to absorb the costs. In EVERY case they ended up passing that fee directly to the customer. We clearly displayed there would be a fee incurred to cover the cost of using an online processor, broke the fess down in the shopping cart so they could see it and decide to cancel the transaction. NO ONE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FEES. In every case, in-house traffic reduced. Most counties put up kiosks so those that did walk-in could pay without standing in line--and they happily paid the extra fee without a word even though they were right there in the cashiers office. In the end, operational costs were reduced, and some even requested more applications to do the same thing. We wound up taking the same structure and built applications for them to accept water bill payments, family court payments, traffic court tickets, vehicle tax and license plates, and even the entire Parks and Recreations division went online for one county--allowing residents to reserve park facilities, sign up for community classes and activities (soccer, basketball, baseball, etc and could even order and pay for uniforms through the portal). All along, being notified of the extra fee being passed along, and happily and willingly paying that extra fee as it justified the added convenience.

Please, do not underestimate the value of disclosure when dealing with an issue with as much an impact as this.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Septimus]

this is complete BS SE, why force us to use a 3rd party to handle monthly payment, now my friend cant even login or pay now, and i fear for myself afetr i transfer over. Why Fix Something that was not broke!?

It was broken already. People who didn't have 3D Secure cards have had to fight Square to take their money for years.

[RAIST]

It was broken already. People who didn't have 3D Secure cards have had to fight Square to take their money for years.

and now those that COULD use a credit card are being denied, and for some it is the ONLY way to pay, as C&B can't process payments, and Crysta not offered by SE.

The point is....the new options should have been made available in PARALLEL to the current 3DS option so ALL bases are covered--along the lines of what they are doing for JP region. Japanese players have virtually NOTHING preventing them from paying for FFXI. They get the added benefit of a secured CC option direct to SE and not through a third party, or they can go through a currency vendor and buy Crysta if the want/need to.

[Septimus]

and now those that COULD use a credit card are being denied, and for some it is the ONLY way to pay, as C&B can't process payments, and Crysta not offered by SE.

The point is....the new options should have been made available in PARALLEL to the current 3DS option so ALL bases are covered--along the lines of what they are doing for JP region. Japanese players have virtually NOTHING preventing them from paying for FFXI. They get the added benefit of a secured CC option direct to SE and not through a third party, or they can go through a currency vendor and buy Crysta if the want/need to.

The point is that it was broken for some people already.

Do I think that this is the best system possible? No, I do not. But the old system was terrible for some people also.

Yes, it would be best if we have the option for direct credit cards (like the Japanese players have) and Crysta available, but Crysta is not the Apocalypse.