Terrible Payment System

[Kailea_Nagisa]

If there were alternatives than I would agree with you. For many, there aren't. The only real alternative to CnB is UltimatePay, which isn't available in many places and isn't viable in any place. Also, CnB is defrauding and scamming many players. I feel it is a big deal. In all my time playing FFXI I personally feel this is the biggest controversy SE has immersed themselves in, and certainly the biggest slap in the face to their customers.

If we had reasonable options this thread would not exist, and the tinfoil hats would be safely folded away in the cupboard collecting dust.

I understand that, and for me UltimatePay is not a valid payment method, so I will just wait, if there is not a new payment method before they start charging, then I will play something else until one is added.

[Kailea_Nagisa]

There is no guarantee they will not touch your account after you close it. There have been instances of them surreptitiously reactivating your account.

and that is when you can sue.

[SilvertearRen]

and that is when you can sue.

Sue them where? In U.S. court? They are based in the UK, and their office in the U.S. is but for appearances. They are in the jurisdiction of authorities in London, which isn't saying much - I have very little faith in anything actually happening in the UK.

It is expensive for a foreigner to sue a company in London.

It is this exact reason why ClickandBuy specifically avoids antagonizing U.K. cardholders sometimes, and goes after foreigners, if the reports are anything to go by.

[Chocobits]

and that is when you can sue.

International law makes it very difficult to sue under those circumstances. The blame will keep getting shuffled between the service provider (SE), the payment gateway (CnB), your own bank, and any other entities that even looked at the transaction. I've been told suing SE results in "$100 or you can keep your account, which do you choose?"

[Catapult]

Better to lodge a complaint with the Financial Services Authority and let THEM do the suing.

This is not the US, where it is up to the consumer to sue for action to be taken. There is a financial ombudsman that exists for the primary purpose of being a middleman during major complaint issues, a middleman who can legally impose penalties through legislation if the relevant company does not act to resolve the issue. 99% of issues then get resolved without even needing to touch the courts.

(PS: Aussies may be brutal, but we are also hellishly loyal. Gain our loyalties and you've got a customer for life, regardless of the costs. Piss us off and you've lost us for life.)

[SilvertearRen]

Better to lodge a complaint with the Financial Services Authority and let THEM do the suing.

This is not the US, where it is up to the consumer to sue for action to be taken. There is a financial ombudsman that exists for the primary purpose of being a middleman during major complaint issues.

(PS: Aussies may be brutal, but we are also hellishly loyal. Gain our loyalties and you've got a customer for life, regardless of the costs. Piss us off and you've lost us for life.)

I tried looking up the ombudsman information and found no direct contact information.

[Catapult]

I tried looking up the ombudsman information and found no direct contact information.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.u...act/index.html
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/consumer...ct/index.shtml

[Chocobits]

An interesting read that was. I think it's already been pointed out btw, but here it is again:

FSA Register - Click and Buy No Longer Registered

They are, however authorized with an E-Money account. Which does not afford you protection under the FSCS:

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is the compensation fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms. If a firm becomes insolvent or ceases trading we may be able to pay compensation to its customers.

E-Money Services are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

[SilvertearRen]

An interesting read that was. I think it's already been pointed out btw, but here it is again:

FSA Register - Click and Buy No Longer Registered

They are, however authorized with an E-Money account. Which does not afford you protection under the FSCS:

Oh wow, then this should be a good reason for Square Enix to immediately drop ClickandBuy...it really shows just how small-time CnB is, and ultimately how toxic it really is.

What are you waiting for, Bayohne? Pass this on to the Square Enix brass - it's important that you guys disentangle yourselves from ClickandBuy as soon as possible.

If there's no compensation for customer complaints or losses, then there's no protection for any losses Square Enix incurs from the current operations of ClickandBuy.

Meaning, what's stopping ClickandBuy from charging money on all of the credit cards they have accumulated up to now, taking all that money, shutting down, and skipping town?

So, there's a very scary thought. The entire foreign market for FFXI and FFXIV (theoretical) both easily outweigh the revenues Square Enix generates from their Japanese market. If all of that money were to suddenly evaporate because of CnB's mismanagement, well...Square wouldn't be able to get that money back because of international laws, and the fact that CnB isn't under any protections to ensure that the money would be reimbursed.

On top of that, the fact that they are only authorized with an e-money account with the FSA is indicative that they have VERY weak government/financial oversight, which makes the above scenario all the more likely.

[Inaaca]

Gah, this is sounding more serious the more I hear about it, and I was uncomfortable with it to begin with. Something really needs to be done to ensure the safety and security of SE's customers.