Odd Multiple Service Accounts question!

[NeverAgain]

First let me clarify by saying I have no need for multiple service accounts. I'm not even sure why I have 2 right now, but I don't plan on playing multiple character simultaneously, so as far as I know, it's pointless for me to have 2.

Here's the everything: I played FFXIV 1.0. I pre-ordered the Digital Collector's Edition of FFXIV:ARR for Windows PC, and did so from the Square Enix site. I punched in my 18-digit serial code, and got my Early Access code. When I tried to activate the Early Access code, it asked which service account I would like to apply it to. These were my two options:

http://imgur.com/J9WODXI

The problem being that I played Open Beta for FFXIV:ARR on the first account, labelled "FFXIV 1." But somehow my purchase of the digital Collector's Edition seems to have attached itself to the account labelled "FFXIV 2." I don't know why or how, I suppose because (apparently) that's what service account FFXIV 1.0 used. I do not know or recall why or how 2 service accounts came to exist, but now my Main character is on a different account than the one my Collector's Edition seems to be associated with.

I don't know what to do. I have not linked my Early Access code to either of them yet, because I don't want to irreparably screw something up.

Does anyone have any insight on this?

I waited in the customer service chat queue for hours only to be told nobody's there to help me once I reached next in line. I will probably call the customer service number, but business hours are over for the day so I'll have to wait until tomorrow, which is pushing it awfully close to the Early Access window Which is why I'm grasping at straws now to see if anyone might be able to help me here.

[NeverAgain]

Oh, and I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but when joining this forum, the list of my characters to choose from was the list of characters from my account "FFXIV 1" which almost seems encouraging...

[Aiyza]

I also noticed when you log into square enix account management then go to select service....final fantasy xiv...it lists two service accounts. I believe one is 1.0 and the other is 2.0. If you click on cancel service (won't cancel the account yet because you have to double confirm) it shows when you activated that account.

[Rhomagus]

It seems like you bought the 1.0 Collector's edition as the items for the 2.0 collector's edition are given by default.

Since you can't technically register the 2.0 Collector's edition, your FFXIV account 2 is your old 1.0 Collector's edition account.

The only characters that show up to be used on the new forums are the ones you have specifically created for ARR. I have 10 characters ready to be made for release but I've only actually created 2. The only characters I could choose from when signing in for the first time for the new forums were the two I had made for beta phase 4.

[BKPiazza]

I also noticed when you log into square enix account management then go to select service....final fantasy xiv...it lists two service accounts. I believe one is 1.0 and the other is 2.0. If you click on cancel service (won't cancel the account yet because you have to double confirm) it shows when you activated that account.

hmm I only have one service account showing, my 1.0 account and I have 2.0 all registered and ready to go...

[Rhomagus]

I also noticed when you log into square enix account management then go to select service....final fantasy xiv...it lists two service accounts. I believe one is 1.0 and the other is 2.0. If you click on cancel service (won't cancel the account yet because you have to double confirm) it shows when you activated that account.

This happened to a lot of people (including myself) during the shift from beta to early release during 1.0. People accidentally chose to make a new account when release came even though they had inadvertently already created an account when they signed up for beta in 1.0.

It's crazy how many people I personally know have to log into their second account by default because of SE's odd instructions. From what I remember the above seems to be the reason why a lot of people have two accounts in the first place.

[NeverAgain]

I also noticed when you log into square enix account management then go to select service....final fantasy xiv...it lists two service accounts. I believe one is 1.0 and the other is 2.0. If you click on cancel service (won't cancel the account yet because you have to double confirm) it shows when you activated that account.

Ok, so here's where it gets weird, then.... account "FFXIV 1" was added September 3 2010. Account "FFXIV 2" was added Sept 22, 2010. Wtf? Also, sometimes when I click the "cancel" button, it says the account is not registered. I go back, hit refresh, click again, and it has the date. WHUT?!

EDIT!

This happened to a lot of people (including myself) during the shift from beta to early release during 1.0. People accidentally chose to make a new account when release came even though they had inadvertently already created an account when they signed up for beta in 1.0.

It's crazy how many people I personally know have to log into their second account by default because of SE's odd instructions. From what I remember the above seems to be the reason why a lot of people have two accounts in the first place.

Ooooohh, ok well at least that part seems to make some sense...

[NeverAgain]

It seems like you bought the 1.0 Collector's edition as the items for the 2.0 collector's edition are given by default.

Since you can't technically register the 2.0 Collector's edition, your FFXIV account 2 is your old 1.0 Collector's edition account.

The only characters that show up to be used on the new forums are the ones you have specifically created for ARR. I have 10 characters ready to be made for release but I've only actually created 2. The only characters I could choose from when signing if for the first time for the new forums were the two I had made for phase for beta.

"FFXIV 2" definitely has the old 1.0 Collector's Edition stuff, BUT it also says "FFXIV: A Realm Reborn Collector's Edition" on it. Like my new one is already tied to that account without me ever doing so.

Good to know about the forum characters, thank you.

[NeverAgain]

Ok, here's what I am gathering so far:

I created basically a dead dummy account, known as "FFXIV 1", during beta of FFXIV 1.0, and never really used it. Once release of 1.0 came about, I made the account now known as "FFXIV 2" and used it for my collector's edition of 1.0, my characters, etc. FFXIV:ARR open beta starts, I create my main character on the account "FFXIV 1" not realizing the complications this would create... Upon punching in the 18-digit serial number for FFXIV:ARR, SE automatically associated it to "FFXIV 2" because that had the FFXIV 1.0 data on it? Even though I had beta characters on "FFXIV 2."

So basically I'm gonna have to abandoned my "FFXIV 1" characters that I already dumped hours of playtime into, added friend to my friends list, etc etc... and start over on my "FFXIV 2" account... because neither I nor SE can seem to get our shit together... lol. UGH

There's no way to transfer character data between accounts, I imagine...

[Rhomagus]

So here's what I can gather happened to you.

September 3 2010

- Signed up for Version 1.0 Open Beta

September 22, 2010

- Created Second account (Final Fantasy XIV 2) and used your Collector's Edition registration code. During the registration process you were informed that the benefits only worked for a new account so during said process you created a "new" account, not knowing that you had already created a new account or were unsure if the beta account "counted" as a new account. Also, you were told your character progress from Open Beta would not carry over into release, but that you could use your character creation data to create a "new" character for release. Was not properly informed that the character you created for Beta was actually already tied to an account you already created but that the progress for that character was wiped while the character creation data wasn't. Even if you were informed, you played it safe and chose to make a new account either way.

- Either played or didn't play 1.0.
- Either wondered or didn't wonder why you didn't have all of your Collector's Edition perks.

August 17th, 2013

- Sign up for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn as a person who "Already has a Square Enix Account"
- Create Beta character on Final Fantasy XIV 1.

August 20th, 2013

- Confused why your 2.0 Collector's Edition data is being used on an account you didn't create.
- Didn't realize that 1.0 Collector's Edition accounts get all the same in game items as 2.0 Collector's Edition.

August 21st, 2013

- Is informed by fellow gamer that Final Fantasy XIV 2 looks like a 2.0 account when in reality it is a 1.0 Collector's Edition account as no one has access to 2.O Collector's Edition registration codes.
- Choose to apply Pre-order registration code to either Final Fantasy XIV 1 (ARR beta) or Final Fantasy XIV 2 (1.0 Collector's Edition)

August 24th, 2013 ~* The Future *~
- Have a blast playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn with chosen account from above!

August 27th, 2013 ~* THE EVEN MORE FUTURER *~

- Receive 2.0 Collector's Edition registration code.
- Apply Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn registration code to Final Fantasy XIV 1.
- Final Fantasy XIV 1 has access to Helm of Light, Baby Behemoth, Behemoth Barding, Coeurl Bell
- Final Fantasy XIV 2 has access to Onion Helm, Helm of Light, Baby Behemoth, Behemoth Barding, Coeurl Bell

continue to ponder which account / character has more progress. Final Fantasy XIV 1 (Open Beta / ARR Open Beta) or Final Fantasy XIV 2 (1.0 Early release account).