Thread: 401 Error when transferring character - Primitive system (has not changed since 1.0)

I've encounter an error (401) that has appeared after I entered my billing information when I go to transfer my character to another server via the mog station. I've used the mog station before to purchase subscription time and other items with no error or problem before, but seems like now there is.

I've haven't changed my billing information and matches my bank information and personal details are still the same from day 1, and now theres a problem. Just last week I was able to add additional retainers with no problem but seems like the primitive account system that is square enix has not fixed or implemented a better billing system for more than a decade or since 1.0 ffxiv, and is imo is harshly inconvenient to a frequent player or worse a new player.

Worst off i think the system locks you off for up to 24 hours to 1 month if you attempt again, which is insane.. yes i get the credit fraud is a problem, but to a legit player trying to play again *worse if ur trying to get this resolved on a weekend or before raid night* is messed up.

Seriously fix the issue or implement a better one, other mmo's i've played seem to like money and seem to you know, actually want you to play and not waste your time and not blame your bank even tho you can pay things 99% everywhere else except square enix.. wtf

Just a follow up that may suggest why this happens,

From what I've discovered today in my theory at least, IF you use a credit/debit card with an static IP Address the system will assume that IP is the origin and will record that card under that ip. On the other hand if you use a dynamic IP which most of us use, the system will record your card number with that IP Address at that given time if you pay for a sub or anything on the mogstation, in turn this will trigger the fraud detection in the billing system which the mogstation uses. So basically use a different IP Address from what you use originally from the first ever payment, and your blocked until square enix or mogstation resets the whitelist or the general database where it stores the Card number.

This system is quite old as mentioned above, and if square enix are breached from an hacker and some how get an hold of the database of your card number, ur basically screwed. So in all this can cause problems to the consumer. I also noticed some moderators try to give help on the forums about this issue:

1.) Make sure that you are entering all of your card information (CC#, expiration date, CVV#, etc) correctly. <Yes this is obviously true
2.) Make sure that your financial institution has all of your latest billing information (address, name, etc). <False
3.) Contact your financial institution to make sure there no issues with your account. < I'm guessing this is for people that use credit cards and have some outstanding fees
4.) After taking the preceding steps, if you are still encountering error code messages, please wait 24 hours and then try again. < this is bs, unless they tell us to wait 24 hours for the system to reset your IP after 24 hours or 1 month.. which is a giant waste of time and money