Workaround For Renewing Subscription (Error 401/601)

[Timberwolf]

Figured it out a little bit ago and posted in the 401/601 thread, but though I'd repost up top for all to see.

Got it! All right, here's the deal. It's a workaround, they still need to fix thier $#!t, but this will get you playing in the mean time:

1) Get a hold of an Ultimate Game Card (best found at Walmart or Gamestop) for, say, $20.

2) Log into Mog Station/SE Account Management and attempt to add crysta with it.
*(99% chance of it giving you an error and rejecting the card - this is just to make a paper trail to be followed)*

3) Contact the VISA operator @ (650) 432-3200, ask for PlaySpan (read: Ultimate Pay)

4) Tell the following rep you attempted but failed at adding Crysta. They will ask you for the PIN of the card and for the email that your game is tied to. When they look it up, they will see your prior attempt - makes it fast and easy for them.

5) Confirm that you want your game card placed onto your FFXIV account.
*(Within 10 minutes, you'll have an email letting you know you've had Crysta added.)*

6) Log into your Square Enix Account Management page, click on "Crysta Passbook", and you'll see the 2,000 crysta added.

7) Continue to Mog Station, and go through the payment process again, this time using the Crysta that is now on your account.

As I said, this is a pain in the butt and roundabout way of doing it (Hopefully you're lucky and can get a digital card from Walmart.com or Gamestop.com), but it will (and has in my case) gotten me back online and playing. In the mean time... SE, get off yer @$$es and fix your payment system!

Good luck to all, hope to see you in the game!

[Yoseph]

So you reward SE for screwing up billing and payments?

not a good thing...

[SeleneSinclair]

Okay, so I wanted to pop in here to CONFIRM that this works.

Also, please understand something: The woman at Ultimate Pay told me why this is happening! Square-Enix has a safeguard in place so that large transactions on brand new accounts are restricted. So, everyone trying to buy the $77.94 amount, was being declined for their own safety since it is a new account without a transaction history. You are being locked out entirely after too many failed attempts (which is also what displays in the 601 error message.)

She basically went in and manually added the funds from the Ultimate Pay Game card since my account was locked out entirely and restricted from too many failed attempts!

This is not Square-Enix trying to piss you off, it is simply due to a safety precaution (and possibly a little too much oversight, since they should have known people would try to purchase 180 days out the door!)

I hope this makes everyone a little less grumpy and a little more able to play!

Purchase your Ultimate Game Card from their website, or from Walmart's website (as OP says in first post) and follow OP's instructions in getting declined once, and calling the number. You will be able to play! I promise!

[Aketo]

It is amazing the lengths people will go to play a game without outcrying to the company putting archaic systems in to lock customers out, what kind of fools program a payment system like?

[Zappo]

Turning off noscript in firefox fixed it for me. The page where you submit your CC details doesn't play nice with that browser add-on.

[Kasualty]

I dunno, id rather just use my credit card...Why offer the 180 days if its so restrictive. Its really sad how this is happening.