Payment Method Registration Errors [Error Code 401 and 601]

[Tyro]

Global Collect answered my email. They said the transaction was denied because the system think it was a fraud (error 160 from them), and they also forwarded my email to SE, to try a solution to my problem.
I advise everyone do the same, maybe from Global, they see this with other eyes.

I'll send the e-mail too. Please let us know if they solve anything.

[Namir]

That seems like at least some progress where non has been made for a while Wyverm. I can't send them an email since I have extra free days from adding my PS3 code, and I added a new card that has yet to be billed, but please do keep us informed!

[Iymala]

After sitting on Hold for close to an hour I am starting to wonder if it is even possible to get through to SE Customer service to clear this up.

Edit Follow-up: I finally got through to customer service on the phone to have them tell me there was nothing they could do and that the system "automatically" blocks cards. For no reason, we now have a 30 day block on our cards that they are unable to lift. This is completely unacceptable customer service. I am very sorry that my account already processed my 180 subscription while my fiance is having to deal with this. I would have cut my losses and found a new game. While I truly enjoy the game this level of customer service, with no apologies made is unacceptable and nothing I would feel good supporting.

The only suggestion they gave was to go find an Ultimate Game Card.

[Namir]

After sitting on Hold for close to an hour I am starting to wonder if it is even possible to get through to SE Customer service to clear this up.

Edit Follow-up: I finally got through to customer service on the phone to have them tell me there was nothing they could do and that the system "automatically" blocks cards. For no reason, we now have a 30 day block on our cards that they are unable to lift. This is completely unacceptable customer service. I am very sorry that my account already processed my 180 subscription while my fiance is having to deal with this. I would have cut my losses and found a new game. While I truly enjoy the game this level of customer service, with no apologies made is unacceptable and nothing I would feel good supporting.

The only suggestion they gave was to go find an Ultimate Game Card.

To be honest... I am beginning to wonder if those supposed "30 day blocks" are real or if they just say that to keep the person from complaining... The fact that nowhere in the site does it say that the account is blocked, coupled with the fact that not even customer service actually knows 100% if any account is blocked for 24, 48, 72 hrs or a month really makes me think that they're just saying that to get us to shut up for a while and stop us from bugging them to fix something that they just don't know how to fix...

[Iymala]

We just got off the phone with CS for the second time. The previous time they said the credit card was blocked for 30 days.... what they DID NOT say was the ENTIRE account was blocked from ALL credit card transactions for 30 days. We as customers did nothing wrong. We attempted payment with a working card, it was denied, we tried again with a working card... it was again denied... like any reasonable customer... we contacted our bank to make sure there was no hold on the card or issues. We were assured there was not, so we tried the card again an hour later.... BOOM... 30 day block on our account for simply attempting to pay for the account.

When we inquired of, Daniel (SE Customer Service Rep), why this was happening... we were told it was our fault for how we input the information. Really? You mean by putting in a valid credit card, checking our information, inputting it again, being responsible and contacting our bank, we caused the system to lock us out. We then asked if this issue was going to be corrected in any form... we were told, No. This system is working as intended. That it is the customers fault for inputting the information incorrectly (oh, wait... it was input correctly every time). I am completely disgusted with the unapologetic treatment received from the customer service team, and their absolute refusal to resolve the customer's issue.

[zzapp]

We just got off the phone with CS for the second time. The previous time they said the credit card was blocked for 30 days.... what they DID NOT say was the ENTIRE account was blocked from ALL credit card transactions for 30 days. We as customers did nothing wrong. We attempted payment with a working card, it was denied, we tried again with a working card... it was again denied... like any reasonable customer... we contacted our bank to make sure there was no hold on the card or issues. We were assured there was not, so we tried the card again an hour later.... BOOM... 30 day block on our account for simply attempting to pay for the account.

When we inquired of, Daniel (SE Customer Service Rep), why this was happening... we were told it was our fault for how we input the information. Really? You mean by putting in a valid credit card, checking our information, inputting it again, being responsible and contacting our bank, we caused the system to lock us out. We then asked if this issue was going to be corrected in any form... we were told, No. This system is working as intended. That it is the customers fault for inputting the information incorrectly (oh, wait... it was input correctly every time). I am completely disgusted with the unapologetic treatment received from the customer service team, and their absolute refusal to resolve the customer's issue.

I share your pain... after getting a 2nd email regarding this problem, they told me this could not be resolved by email, and that I was to contact them via either phone or chat. After waiting over 1 hour in que on the phone (long distance, of course) I finally hung up, and then waiting almost 3 hours in chat que, I got to #1 in que and the system disconnected me. I hear all these horror stories, and they really are true.

There was nothing incorrect in the information I entered for my credit card. As a matter of fact, I used this very same CC for FFXI for years, and also for FFXIV beginning in October 2010. GlobalCollect reflected the $1 test charge 9 times, yet the final acceptance never occurred. Today, it had been over a week since I last tried this. I contacted my CC company to see if the 9 pending $1 charges had been reversed, and they had. I also confirmed with them that my CC was not blocked. Bottom line, I get to the final review page and, BAM, 401 error.

The absolute worst part about this whole thing is SE hasn't even responded to this as a recognized issue... and BTW, whoever heard of freezing an account 30 days for too many attempts? Are you insane, SE?

[Iymala]

Even more depressing update.... The SE Customer Service Rep said the only way to get game time on the account after the lockout was to go get the Ultimate Game Card and buy Crysta with it. We went to Walmart and purchased $80.00 so that we could get the 180day subscription.... we input the codes to get the PREPAID game cards DENIED. You have got to be kidding me. All the cards go through, the amounts show in the payment window, but when we hit confirm our payment is yet again denied. We had to call Ultimate Pay to try to get this sorted out. Ultimate Pay was very helpful and resolved the issue.

So if you are having the same issue and go the Ultimate Game Card route you may need to contact them via phone if you continue to get Denied. The phone number for Ultimate Pay is 650-432-3200

[Guammasa]

/start rant
...beyond unacceptable. A month, my account is blocked because I tried more than once to give you my money? Because I literally would have thrown my money at you without question of amount to be able to enjoy this product? Because I tried over several days to pay for something I want access to, I am being punished? Way to go SE, I particularly love how any attempts I have made to contact you in order to resolve this have been met with all of these problems rooted on me. Yes, it is obviously all my fault that your system has failed me. My fault that you can't take my money, my fault that I have a bank, my fault for buying your horribly supported game and expecting actual customer service. My fault that I have jumped through hoops, high and low, to try and do anything and everything on my end to be able to enjoy your product.

I think the only thing I am at fault for is having faith in a company that brought me some of my fondest memories in gaming.

/endrant

[zerothree]

So... after trying to setup a subscription yesterday and getting the 601 error with three different cards, I came to this forum to figure out just what I was doing wrong. After reading all these problems and general lack of help people were receiving, I was getting pretty discouraged from attempting any more to continue playing. (which is a total bummer, as I'm really enjoying this game so far.) Anyhoozle, I decided to try once again after waiting the 24 hours. This time before I tried to add a subscription to my account, I registered a payment method first. I don't know if that was indeed a solution, I could have just gotten lucky this time around, but I was able to sign up for a subscription after doing the registration.

Hopefully this helps anyone else who's been having the same 601 problem.

[Wyverm]

So... after trying to setup a subscription yesterday and getting the 601 error with three different cards, I came to this forum to figure out just what I was doing wrong. After reading all these problems and general lack of help people were receiving, I was getting pretty discouraged from attempting any more to continue playing. (which is a total bummer, as I'm really enjoying this game so far.) Anyhoozle, I decided to try once again after waiting the 24 hours. This time before I tried to add a subscription to my account, I registered a payment method first. I don't know if that was indeed a solution, I could have just gotten lucky this time around, but I was able to sign up for a subscription after doing the registration.

Hopefully this helps anyone else who's been having the same 601 problem.

I did this. Now i can register my card, but at last step, error 401 pops up.
Now i'm being charged by 1 dollar every time i try. What shit service, my god.