Recovering a deleted FFXI character

[Toren]

I wanted to recover a character that was deleted a month ago on another account how do I need to go about this?

[Rewyen]

Depends. Did you fully delete the account, or just the character? SE used to have a character reactivation service, but as far as I know, it's not active right now. I could be wrong, so don't quote me. If the account was just cancelled (like you stopped paying for it) it might be able to be recovered by just re-submitting a payment for it. Hopefully you get a better answer

[Toren]

Just the character, not the account. I tried reactivating the account but the character is still not there, and the character reactivation service is inactive.

[Toren]

I talked with some tech support people they said that it can't be restored until POL's character reactivation service has been restored, from what I know it's been down for months I wonder when it will be restored

Edit: The downside is I reactivated that account to have that character now that account is entirely useless until the character restoration service is active

Edit 2: I found this but this looks like it dates back before the square account management page

Character data is stored for 3 months after the Content ID has been cancelled. Within that time frame, Content IDs can be reactivated. If you perform reactivation procedures after 3 months have passed and your data has not yet been deleted, you will be able to reactivate your Content ID. If you would like to reactivate a Content ID, you can do so on the PlayOnline Viewer from: Service & Support → Membership → Contents → Reactivate ID.

Does this mean the character is still saved server side since it was deleted in January?

[Rewyen]

Well, technically they are supposed to say that. I've had deleted content IDs restored past the eighth month mark, but this was back in the days before ToAU, so I'm not sure if it would apply to this. I would just try it, and if it doesn't work, you can always cancel it again, though I would imagine that reactivation meant spending money?

[Toren]

Yeah I've already paid for reactivating and the character still isn't there. I just don't know what can be done now

[SE_James]

Toren (and everyone else),

There are two separate situations that are being discussed in this thread, and I’d like to clarify everything to ensure that the appropriate information is getting out.

When a FINAL FANTASY XI Character Option has been cancelled (either voluntarily, or due to non-payment), the character on that option is guaranteed to remain for the first 90 days of cancellation, and after that, it may be deleted at any time. In order to start playing that character once more, you simply need to reactivate the appropriate FINAL FANTASY XI Character Option.

When a FINAL FANTASY XI Character itself has been deleted (by logging into the game, selecting the DELETE CHARACTER option, and following the onscreen prompts, or due to inactivity), then the only way to recover that character is through the Character Reactivation Service provided on the PlayOnline website.

Unfortunately the Character Reactivation Service is unavailable at this time, and we do not have any information as to when it will be restored. We do apologize for any confusion that may have come up in this thread, however.

[Toren]

I didn't want to bump this thread? The character I previously wrote about in this post was deleted in game using the delete option. I just want to know if the reactivation service will be restored anytime soon.

I would just rebuild the character on that account however the amount of work and time that was put into it makes that very difficult.

[Dragoy]

Toren,

Nobody knows, methinks.
However in the meantime, there is this, if you haven't noticed it yet:

EU:

• Character Reactivation Service - Restoring a deleted character @ SQUARE ENIX Support Centre

NA:

• Character Reactivation Service - Restoring a deleted character @ SQUARE ENIX Support Center

[Azaelvan]

hi guys

i had problem with my account, i don't transfare the playonline account until to SE account mangament system until of 1/4/2012, and they cancell my account, i transfared all playonline account that belong with me yestarday, and SE take the monthly payment after i transfare the playonline account, when i log in the game they said you don't have content ID, when i back to my SE account mangament system to reactive the account i see it is already active. and i don't know what problem with it.

thx