Payment Method Registration Errors [Error Code 401 and 601]

[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?

[Orion31]

I'm not legacy, nor are some of my friends that have this same problem.

So I was able to talk to live chat... they were no help, but they gave me a number to call and said to call asap as there was no wait. So I called and was helped immediately. For the credit card issues he said that there is nothing he can do, it's blocked for 30 days. So I'm gonna try in another 30 days. As for the Crysta issue and why Guam accounts do not have that option, he said it is under "intense investigation." He did also confirm that Guam should have that option as we are a part of the American Region. So I'm gonna wait a month and try my credit card again, if that doesn't work then I'm canceling.

[Valifor]

Why is this Happening do they not want my Money ?! I just Finished my 37 days trial and now getting the (Error 601) , Hate to say it but WoW never gave me this Kind of trouble!

[Valifor]

Fellow Guammie,
Hafa Adai !! I have the same Problems like you !! thanks for the updated for i was not Able to connect to them ?! Hope this gets fixed soon ...

[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

[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.

[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

[WayneSheryl]

I had exactly the same problem, but I was able to get around it by calling Ultimate game card.
But even right now, I can't pay by CC, paypal or prepaid card myself.

I'm wondering if most of us here are trying to pay from oversea like myself?