Beta and the issue of billing

[Lux_Rayna]

I guess the most pointed way to ask what I'm pondering is; what happens if our last sub fee is less than a month away from the shutdown?

I'm really shocked no one has answered your question yet. I know a lot of working adults play ffxiv, so I would think someone would know. But oh well, i'll tell you.


Normal business practice is that you are charged for the full month. Some business will pro-rate you if you sign up for something midway through a billing cycle, but obviously that does not apply here. As a customer we are responsible for our billing. If we do not want to be charged a full month for a partial service, we have every opportunity to cancel our subscription before that billing cycle. In other words, its not really a billing problem at all...unless they never tell you its coming. But we know its coming, so its a non-issue.

[Alhanelem]

I know direct questions rarely get answered, but this is one pointed at the community reps in hopes we can get a response.

Keeping a concrete date for the v1 shutdown is all well and good, but it brings about an interesting billing issue.

Since billing is a 30-day cycle starting from activation, I assume the dates are scattered throughout the month for when individuals are billed.

Let's assume the v1 shut down occurs Oct. 15 -- merely as a speculative example. What happens to those due to be billed Sept. 16 and beyond?

I know the response we might get is that "details will be released 'soon,'" but Oct. 15 is at the far end of the late Sept./early Oct. target. So in theory, some people may have already payed their last sub fee while others might be getting slighted and not yet know it.

I guess the most pointed way to ask what I'm pondering is; what happens if our last sub fee is less than a month away from the shutdown?

If there is going to be a lengthy shutdown, they will prorate the month, give you an extra free month of time, or give a partial refund or something. They did that after the japan earthquake when both games were down for over a week.

[Lux_Rayna]

If there is going to be a lengthy shutdown, they will prorate the month, give you an extra free month of time, or give a partial refund or something. They did that after the japan earthquake when both games were down for over a week.

Well thats a bit different as it was unplanned interruption of service. This is a known and planned cancellation of service so I cant imagine them being so generous. They might, but im guessing the penny pinchers will probably say no bueno to that. At best they may not bill that month...which is also quite a bit generous.

[Alhanelem]

Well thats a bit different as it was unplanned interruption of service.

They didn't lose power, they had backups, they chose to shut them off because it would have been inappropriate for them to keep them running when there were power shortages. I don't see it as being different. THe game was offline for an extended period, thus they compensated people. I don't think they would not do so if the game was down for a similar period of time again. (However, it's probably not going to be that long).

Also, your free period start and end dates will almost certainly be based on when your subscription is set to end (may be part of why the 90 day plan was removed).

As far as money as concerned, SE has been very reasonable in reference to this game and they have been making smart moves in that department. I have no doubt they will handle this acceptably.

[Lux_Rayna]

They didn't lose power, they had backups, they chose to shut them off because it would have been inappropriate for them to keep them running when there were power shortages. I don't see it as being different. THe game was offline for an extended period, thus they compensated people. I don't think they would not do so if the game was down for a similar period of time again. (However, it's probably not going to be that long).

That is still an unplanned interruption of service. It makes a world of difference.

As far as money as concerned, SE has been very reasonable in reference to this game and they have been making smart moves in that department. I have no doubt they will handle this acceptably.

But theres nothing to handle. You know ahead of time whether your billing cycle will cut short. You have every opportunity to cancel service. Any action on their part is just generosity. But doing nothing is perfectly acceptable.

[MariyaShidou]

I'm really shocked no one has answered your question yet. I know a lot of working adults play ffxiv, so I would think someone would know. But oh well, i'll tell you.


Normal business practice is that you are charged for the full month. Some business will pro-rate you if you sign up for something midway through a billing cycle, but obviously that does not apply here. As a customer we are responsible for our billing. If we do not want to be charged a full month for a partial service, we have every opportunity to cancel our subscription before that billing cycle. In other words, its not really a billing problem at all...unless they never tell you its coming. But we know its coming, so its a non-issue.

Except that what I heard from FFXI is that they charged it by the month and not 30 days, and people could be correctly double charged had they paid subscription late in the month (e.g paid 28th August it will be counted as August only, and you have to pay again at 1st September for September). Or at least that what it was in the past. So yes, clarification required.

[Punainen]

I don't think there is going to be a "shut down" on the game services, most probably a heavy download that will either patch our current client into ver 2.0 or a full ver. 2.0 client download. If anything, you will loose 1 day or maximum 2 (if your connection sucks)

No, there is definitely going to be a shutdown, and then at least a month of waiting.

[Sephrick]

I'm really shocked no one has answered your question yet. I know a lot of working adults play ffxiv, so I would think someone would know. But oh well, i'll tell you.


Normal business practice is that you are charged for the full month. Some business will pro-rate you if you sign up for something midway through a billing cycle, but obviously that does not apply here. As a customer we are responsible for our billing. If we do not want to be charged a full month for a partial service, we have every opportunity to cancel our subscription before that billing cycle. In other words, its not really a billing problem at all...unless they never tell you its coming. But we know its coming, so its a non-issue.

I'm 30. I know how billing is supposed to work.

I also played XI and am aware SE doesn't prorate if they don't want to.

[Antipika]

"If they don't want to"... Off course no one is forcing them, they could even delete our character or ban everyone if they wanted to... But why would SE do that?

Billing is now day based (and not a monthly cycle like on XI before), so SE have couple of options:

- Refund, pro-rata based (annoying, lot of accountancy to do, direct loss for SE)
- Credit your account of 1~29 free days which will be used as soon as billing resume. (easier, doesn't have to refund customers, less annoying accountancy to do, incentive for customers to try out ARR since they will have days saved).

- Option 3: No refund, no extra game time. Worse marketing ever. Everyone mad. NA forums on fire.

To me, option 2 looks more appealing.

[kazaran]

IF you read billing it tells you for periods less then certain days, your paymnet is pro-rated.
SO it will be a reduced amount for that period.

WOuld be nice to have credit for days not used and be pro-rated after free trial period. THey may end up doing it that way. THen again there will be a free trail period again.