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Square Enix Facing Class Action Suit Over FFXI "Hidden Fees"

Posted by Soulskill on from the maybe-read-the-box dept.

A class action lawsuit has been initiated against Square Enix over the fees they charge for subscription-based MMO Final Fantasy XI. The court filing alleges "deceptive advertising, unfair practices, and fraudulent concealment" of information about the game's pricing model, essentially saying Square Enix doesn't clearly advertise that there is a monthly fee, and that failure to pay can result in late fees and account termination. The plaintiff is seeking a settlement in excess of $5,000,000 and including "all persons who purchased or played the online games four years prior to the filing of this lawsuit."

2 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. From TFA: by Myji+Humoz · · Score: 5, Informative

    The complaints are:
    1. Licensing of the online games software disguised as a sale
    2. Monthly fees ("fees") to play online games
    3. Penalties for late payment fees
    4. Interest charges for late payment fees
    5. Charges while the online game account is suspended
    6. Termination of the right to use the online game for late payment of the fees
    7. User restrictions and conditions related to the online games
    8. Termination of game data for late payment of the fees

    Lets see...
    1) Normal for mmos
    2) Normal for mmos
    3) Sounds like a credit card company
    4) Sounds like a credit card company
    5) Sounds like a scam company
    6) Hello, if you don't pay for something, are you shocked that they cut it off?
    7) Their game, their rules
    8) Their game, their rules

    All in all, this set of complaints seems to boil down to: "your billing department is confusing."

    --
    Signatures are the new names.
    1. Re:From TFA: by mabhatter654 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      it's not reasonable for the industry. When you sign up for any other MMORG it's pretty much pay-as-you-go... if you stop paying them , you stop going. Nice and simple. They're adding late fees and paying for the time you missed (if they disconnect you for a month you STILL pay for it!) in order to KEEP playing your account and not have your account deleted.. that's not something anybody signing up for an MMORG would expect.

      I paid for Wow with cards for a long time and had 3 month gaps because I had other things to do with my money that month and they never charged a "fee" to turn the game back on, or to pay for the months I didn't play. I paid money and played my days... if they want me back they'll keep the tiny amount of space my character takes online to be ready for my bucks when I pay.