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Warhammer Online Users Repeatedly Overbilled
TheSpoom writes "A screw-up in EA's Warhammer Online billing system has resulted in many players being charged upwards of 22 times for a one-month subscription, filling bank accounts with overdraft fees and the Warhammer forums with very angry players, who are discussing the issue quite vocally. EA has said that refunds are in progress and that '[they] anticipate that once the charges have been reversed, any fees that have been incurred should be refunded as well.' They haven't specifically promised to refund overdraft charges, only to ask customers' banks to refund them once the actual charges are refunded. They seem to be assuming banks will have no problem with this."
You can dispute the charge with a debit transaction also... the process takes up to two months, but can be expedited to less than a week if the merchant cooperates right away.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
No. Not if you contact your bank and inform of the situation. It happened to me once and after I called the bank, they ensured that everything still went through. I was not charged any overdraft fees while the investigation was under way and I got my money back in about two weeks.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
I never let anyone deduct directly from my bank account, precisely because of this danger where a company might suck away all my money & leave me with nothing to pay my rent, my electricity, my phone, et cetera. They can only deduct from my bank AFTER I click "pay". Not automatically.
Also I've learned to keep lots of cash. With $20,000 in my account, a $1000 charge from EA's Warhammer would be annoying but not incur overdraft fees.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
>>>Two weeks? You were without your own cash for two weeks and think that is perfectly acceptable?
Victim mentality: "Yeah sure BoA beats me, but I know they still love me. Besides the bruises & lost cash will go-away in a few weeks, and besides I deserved it for my stupidity." - It amazes me how willingly people are to let themselves be screwed, but I guess it's part of human instinct.
When I was a kid I used to let me push me around, but as an adult that no longer happens. I would be polite while talking to BankofAmerica but firm. "I expect the cash and overdraft fees to be returned within one week, else you can close my account..... Yes yes I know you're just following policy, but this is MY policy. Either return the cash within a week, or lose me as a customer. Your choice."
Businesses are your servants, and if they are screwing you instead of serving you, then they need to be "fired". Take your account somewhere else.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
>>>my bank was very cooperative, making sure I suffered no NSF fees as a result
Credit cards are even better. If EA or some other dishonest company hits you with a surprise charge, you can simply not pay it:
- "Why is there a $3500 charge from Walmart?"
CC: "You were shopping in California."
- "I live in Maryland."
CC: "Well our records show you were also in vacation in Denver, Las Vegas, and Kansas City. Perhaps you were shopping in California as well?"
- "No I was not. Probably one of the hotel clerks stole my number and went on a shopping spree. Therefore I'm not paying."
CC: "Sorry sir but you must pay."
- "No."
CC: "But..."
- "I said no. I will pay every charge but not the $3500. You can close my account. We're done."
CC: "But sir....."
"Goodbye."
I never did pay it. Yes true the nonpayment of the $3500 shows on my credit report, but since my credit is perfect, that blemish has no effect whatsoever financially. My score's still above 800.
Now contrast THAT scenario to if it had been a debit card. The $3500 would already be subtracted from my account, and I'd never have gotten it back. But since I used credit, I simply refused to pay and kept the money.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Perhaps you didn't read what I had written correctly... my account *DID* go negative during those couple of weeks, but I still had access to just as much funds as if the money was still there, and was not charged any fees for the service.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
This comment should not be marked "flamebait". There is nothing flaming about it. The moderators are merely trying to destroy another poster via a concerted attack.
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