Click and Buy and Crysta? Garbage, SE

[Coglin]

OP, you had me feeling for you for about 2 sentances, then I glanced to the left side of my screen and saw your character name. Then I realized It was time to stop reading after those 2 sentances, because I could no longr take anything you say seriously.

[SilvertearRen]

I wasn't able to use C&B - outside of the US.

Crysta was the only option, and I used Paypal. I only paid what was needed. No even amounts or things. Or is that option unavailable in your country?

I mean, yeah - it would be better if it was a direct transaction instead of using C&B or Crysta. But right now you can pay the exact amount you want.

http://i.imgur.com/jivfM.jpg (FABULOUS proof #1)

http://i.imgur.com/i8neL.jpg (FABULOUS proof #2)

What's ridiculous is that ClickandBuy is based in London, so you get slapped with foreign transaction fees if you pay through them. On top of that CnB has a questionable reputation and has a negative rating with the Better Business Bureau.

CnB is primarily used by gambling organizations, because of their sloppy paperwork, and they have no real regulation.

Square-Enix's usage of CnB, and my discovery of CnB's reputation and lack of customer support, was why I terminated my credit card on the spot and had a new card issued. That was a huge inconvenience for me in the middle of the college season!

It's really irksome that SE hasn't added more payment options.

P.S. When you buy Crysta, you end up paying service charges to PlaySpan...

[Kaizlu]

P.S. When you buy Crysta, you end up paying service charges to PlaySpan...

I was actually worried about this, I've read it before but since C&B is not an option I went ahead and used the other service. I just checked my credit card statement/thing and the charge was only for the amount added. So I really don't see that "service fee".

Who knows. Thing is SE should implement a simple way to pay or at least let us use PayPal directly without going trough another service/company.

[Monty]

Ya, I've done both so far for FFXI. Click and Buy for Canadians almost adds an extra 1$ per transaction. Ultimate-Pay with Crysta only adds about 40 cents so it stays under 14$. Either way you look at it though, they both add transaction fees which is ridiculous. For now, I'm still paying XI with Crysta since it's the cheaper option, but it's ridiculous nonetheless.

Best part is SE had announced they were looking into these additional charges through Click and Buy, they were supposed to resolve them, and of course, nothing happened. Why they can't bill us directly to our CC's without adding fees on top of it beyond the advertised price... I don't know. Every other MMO in existence can do it, but not one with a massive company running it.

[Jennestia]

Pretty sure transaction fees are typical of almost any banking, especially western banking -- Long as no one uses ATMs, I guess you never encounter service charge of any kind in your life.

Best part is SE had announced they were looking into these additional charges through Click and Buy, they were supposed to resolve them, and of course, nothing happened.

SE doesn't own, run nor invest in Click & Buy, they can't directly control them.

[Monty]

Exactly! So why keep going with them, it makes no sense! Not once, with the old billing system on playonline did I get overcharged. They charged me 12.99$, US to Canadian currency exchange rate, that was it! Nothing more, nothing less! By looking into it, I'd assume they'd go: "Hmmm, people are getting over charged by this company, maybe we should take our business elsewhere, or offer options with no extra charge!"

[Jennestia]

I know, I never had problems with POL either -- Yet a lot of people complained about it for the mere fact they couldn't get into FFXI with 1 click.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

OP, you had me feeling for you for about 2 sentances, then I glanced to the left side of my screen and saw your character name. Then I realized It was time to stop reading after those 2 sentances, because I could no longr take anything you say seriously.

I went back to reread that post after this and burst into a teary eyed giggle upon seeing the name.

I'm sorry OP that I do not have anything new to contribute, I think I will have to review the options again.

If I understand some of what you're saying, it's like the gas stations that charge 9/10s of a penny. What happens to that 1/10? I suspect Richard Pryor may be behind this.

[Yves]

I went back to reread that post after this and burst into a teary eyed giggle upon seeing the name.

I'm sorry OP that I do not have anything new to contribute, I think I will have to review the options again.

If I understand some of what you're saying, it's like the gas stations that charge 9/10s of a penny. What happens to that 1/10? I suspect Richard Pryor may be behind this.

Right. And no, Richard Pryor was cleared of all suspicion in 1988...although I feel it was more of an "OJ was found not guilty" type of thing.

But seriously, SE is doing business with clickandbuy - a notoriously shady comapny and the only other options require either an overage or a service charge. The point is that they are capable of a single-pay system that does not require you to use third parties in order to avoid an overage - third parties that charge a transaction fee.

[tarquel]

I'm just glad theres a discount at present, so I'm going for the 6 month option

Thought I'm not sure I understand 1 crysta = 1 cent in the Account Control panel, as 1 cent doesnt equate to 1 pence in RL (as i'm sure it doesnt in all other countries)

Its only a minor complaint though, given I've stupidly been paying for XI since forever (minus a few months when my card expired), also stupidly thinking us long term XI players/subscribers might have got something more than a "token item(s)" in XIV /sigh

Ah well.... Happy new year all