Dev - Anyone from SE - Can we seriously please get a response to payment problems?

[Seillan]

We should make a new thread; "Games we are playing now instead of FFXI, now that our crysta has run out due to payment problems."

"Baldur's Gate" replay #5634 lol, casting fireball on shopkeepers!
"Cooking Mama" on Facebook.
"Exolon" on Amstrad 464.
"Daggerdale."

My crysta runs out soon and my Visa card is still being Zorro'd every time I use it. My UltimateGameCard crysta is bleeding away and when it does I've got a long list of old and new games to play through, instead of trying to get SE to take my money.

That's not such a bad idea, although it's kind of depressing given the circumstances, heh.

I've been going through some old PSX rpgs that I never got around to back in the day. I just finished Persona 1 (finally) and now I'm thinking of working on Legend of Dragoon.

Others on my list:

- The Breath of Fire series, 1-4 at least
- The rest of the Persona series eventually
- Fallout 2 (beat the first one last year), along with 3 and New Vegas
- I bought the Baulder's Gate: Enhanced Edition when it was on sale last year but never got around to playing it. I might follow your lead on that one soon.
- Speaking of BG, have you ever tried Arcanum? That's another I'd like to go through.

There are plenty of other single player games I'd like to tackle but I'm trying not to overwhelm myself. On the online front -- since FFXI is likely not going to be possible for who knows how long -- I've been thinking of trying Elder Scrolls Online once they roll out their next big patch which is supposed to change a ton of stuff. I figure why start now only to have to learn a bunch of new systems when the patch hits. Dungeons and Dragons online is a possibility as well, but the learning curve in the game looks pretty steep for something I'd probably only be playing as a filler game. I do love being able to make many different interesting builds though. I've also been thinking of messing around again on this one Vanilla World of Warcraft private server again. I don't normally play servers like that, but it's pretty much the only version of WoW that I've ever enjoyed. It pales in comparison to the enjoyment and fulfillment I expected from FFXI of course, but what can you do?

[Stompa]

The Breath of Fire series, 1-4 at least

I'm going to replay BOF series too. I was thinking that earlier today, I haven't played those games in a few years.

Arcanum was OK, I didn't really think it was great, but it was okay.

Baldurs Gate 1&2, plus the Throne Of Bhaal, Neverwinter Nights series. Those are awesome games, which I played from the late 90s, and only stopped playing when FFXI arrived and swallowed up all my free time lol. They're all great games and expansion spinoffs, but I like the original BG1 and 2 best. Great fun, and very imaginatively written story and characters.

I agree with you that I would rather play FFXI, but that if it isn't available due to SEAMS billing problems I will go with other games instead. I might have so much fun playing through my old games catalogue that I just don't miss FFXI and don't want to come back lol.

[Seillan]

I'm going to replay BOF series too. I was thinking that earlier today, I haven't played those games in a few years.

Arcanum was OK, I didn't really think it was great, but it was okay.

Baldurs Gate 1&2, plus the Throne Of Bhaal, Neverwinter Nights series. Those are awesome games, which I played from the late 90s, and only stopped playing when FFXI arrived and swallowed up all my free time lol. They're all great games and expansion spinoffs, but I like the original BG1 and 2 best. Great fun, and very imaginatively written story and characters.

I agree with you that I would rather play FFXI, but that if it isn't available due to SEAMS billing problems I will go with other games instead. I might have so much fun playing through my old games catalogue that I just don't miss FFXI and don't want to come back lol.

Yeah, the BoF series is a childhood fav of mine. Another one that I still hold as one of the most unique, must-play rpgs of that era would have to be Earthbound. It comes off as a bit childish on the surface, but the deeper you get, the more you appreciate it. It also has one of the creepiest end bosses in the genre, heh.

Neverwinter Nights is another game I'd like to delve deeper in. I believe I still have a copy of it lying around somewhere, along with the 2nd. Maybe I'll finally get around to playing it now, considering these asinine payment issues (grr...)

[Seillan]

Well, that was fun. I just got off with a useless agent in support that gave me the BS spiel about how my card was blocked due to "suspicious activity." I guess you have to get lucky to get an agent that will actually help you with this issue. He told me my only option was to wait for other payment options "that will become available in the near future." Fat chance that I'll wait that long. I've never heard of a security system that was so touchy you got your payment locked out for literally doing nothing. When my automatic re-billing stopped initially, I hadn't even logged into my account for probably about a week prior. It makes no sense. Ugh, I'm ticked.

[Stompa]

Well, that was fun. I just got off with a useless agent in support that gave me the BS spiel about how my card was blocked due to "suspicious activity." I guess you have to get lucky to get an agent that will actually help you with this issue. He told me my only option was to wait for other payment options "that will become available in the near future." Fat chance that I'll wait that long. I've never heard of a security system that was so touchy you got your payment locked out for literally doing nothing. When my automatic re-billing stopped initially, I hadn't even logged into my account for probably about a week prior. It makes no sense. Ugh, I'm ticked.

Ah yes, but having a valid bank account, valid debit/credit card, and money in the bank is not enough. Even being a loyal customer for ten years doesn't help!

For payments to go through, you have to make the transaction during Full Moon, and during a Total Lunar Eclipse, and while chanting ancient sacred prayers in a room full of candles and shrines and incense burners. Don't forget to wear a lucky rabbit's foot, incase the other things are not enough. Happy New Year lol.

[Seillan]

Ah yes, but having a valid bank account, valid debit/credit card, and money in the bank is not enough. Even being a loyal customer for ten years doesn't help!

For payments to go through, you have to make the transaction during Full Moon, and during a Total Lunar Eclipse, and while chanting ancient sacred prayers in a room full of candles and shrines and incense burners. Don't forget to wear a lucky rabbit's foot, incase the other things are not enough. Happy New Year lol.

I... may try this.

(Happy New Year!)

[Jile]

I thought I'd mention to those interested in knowing - SE does indeed read this thread, so take whatever comfort that is to you.

That said, since they just threatened to take my account and ban me for the wording I chose on my previous post, I bid you all farewell on the forum as this will be my final post here. See you in game! Hope you eventually get your accounts back online to enjoy the game again!

<take care>

[Seillan]

I thought I'd mention to those interested in knowing - SE does indeed read this thread, so take whatever comfort that is to you.

That said, since they just threatened to take my account and ban me for the wording I chose on my previous post, I bid you all farewell on the forum as this will be my final post here. See you in game! Hope you eventually get your accounts back online to enjoy the game again!

<take care>

Considering this is still an issue for some even on FFXIV, I'm starting to doubt anything will ever change -- regardless of how much we complain here. They apparently haven't lost enough people for it to make a difference; either that, or they just don't care. I've never seen a company that basically refused to take people's money, so I really don't know what to think. For the last three days, I've tried every different method I could find around the web for getting my payment to go through (waiting 24 hours in between each attempt) and it still isn't happening. The only options I haven't tried yet are buying Crytsa instead of the straight subscription (which I doubt will change anything) and using a different card. I only have a debit card myself, so I don't have many options in that regard.

Ugh, it's just so frustrating. The game is truly top notch, and I was really starting to get into it (after not being able to find an mmorpg that has been able to satiate my particular tastes for years) but the way they run the business side of their company is pathetic. And as for their Customer Service department, I'm not even sure why they have one -- it seems like they're unable to help you with almost anything.

Anyway, sorry for yet another rant, heh. I'll continue to keep my eye on the game to see if they ever get off their asses and fix this, but I'm not holding my breath at this point.

[Stompa]

EDIT : was able to pay with the new Paypal option and so posted again once to say thankyou for fixing it.

[Seillan]

We know they've read this thread, they replied to it around 10 pages ago lol.

They said they were working to install a Paypal option ASAP. So they have already "talked the talk" and now we are waiting for them to "walk the walk."

In my small FFXI gamer group, only a handful of people, three have already lost access to their accounts since UltimateGameCard stopped running, they were paying for crysta with Paypal/UGC and now their crysta has expired. My own UGC/Paypal crysta expires in March. All three of my friends (and myself) have tried to pay using debit/credit cards and experienced Error Lockout problems on SEAMS site. So they have abandoned FFXI now.

How many people have stopped playing due to payment problems since the Click&Buy disaster? When at least four people I know quit the game due to Click&Buy's larcenous brigandry treatment of customers. How many more people have stopped playing in the years following C&B, due to SEAMS website Error Lockouts? How many more people have stopped playing since Paypal/UGC option expired?

My guess is that the answer is "quite a lot of people" have stopped playing FFXI in the last 2 years due to payment issues. And in the case of my friends, these were model players, money in the bank, valid cards, great in-game behaviour / obey the TOS etc. / no cheats / always helping new players etc. Those friends are gone from the game now because of C&B and SEAMS website payment problems, and because UGC/Paypal is finished.

This is my last post here on this forum, ever. I've played FFXI since 2004 and I have said its the best videogame ever made. I'd love to keep playing it, and I have money / valid bank cards / bank account / flawless Paypal history etc. There is no reason at all why SE doesn't accept my money from my UK bank, or the money from my half-dozen friends who no longer play the game due to SE randomly not accepting money from their valid EU/US/Canada bank accounts. Its a total mess, and with this sentence I wash my hands of the whole sorry affair. I'll take my money to other games where it is welcomed with open arms.

I was conflicted about liking your post since you said it will be your last, but given the circumstances, I can understand completely . This situation is frustrating enough for me and I'm still a relatively new player (well, I played pretty heavily at one point but it was around the release era.) For someone who's been as loyal to this company as you have, and a model customer for so many years to boot, I can imagine how big of an insult this is to you. To be locked out of something you've devoted so much time and effort to -- for no fault of your own -- is unacceptable, especially when they have the gall to try and pin it on us for "suspicious activity" or other such nonsense. Just thinking about it pisses me off, arrg.

Anyway, I enjoyed the few back & forths we had around here and I'd like to think that one day, when/if SE decides to get their sh*t together, we might have a few more. If not, I wish you the best and I hope you find another "home" that is just as fulfilling .