LM-17 wtf

[Aksannyi]

Yeah he's been incoherent for most of the thread.

[krazylakshmi]

Dude...wtf are you saying..? I'm not one to come into forum's and flame nor condescend, but holy fuck. I'm sorry I semi necro'd this shit. I Should've left it a page back...

meow?

[Nattack]

square is the only company i know that actually intentionally bans people for a common criteria, and expects the users to call in and fix it themselves.

It's probably the worst business practice ever next to physically coming to my house and raping my family, killing my pets, and stealing lunch money because I was late on a bill. I wouldnt care so much if it was a mistake but considering theres an obvious pattern here (happening once a month for the last three months)

It's retarded, its bullshit, it's probably a crime in some shape or form. also, it exhibits squares laziness and coupled insanity when it comes to RMT.

[Hanyoko]

Fixing issues with a shotgun. Sometimes you hit your target, sometimes the bystanders, sometimes your own foot.

[Gummybear]

Fixing issues with a shotgun. Sometimes you hit your target, sometimes the bystanders, sometimes your own foot.

LOL... Filed my complaint through BBB already.

[shaddix]

I filed a complaint with BBB. SE replied saying I'm not getting my accounts back two weeks after I had already recovered them, along with the charges for that month refunded.

[Gummybear]

Wait, what?

Did you get your accounts back? Or are they making this up?

[shaddix]

I called SE and bitched them out, they refunded my money, said they would send "ban complaint". Same day I email BBB and complain to them as well.

7 days later I recover my 3 gardening accounts, 3 days after that BBB has reply from SE saying I won't get my accounts back lol.

[Gummybear]

My original BBB complaint:

Square Enix, Inc
999 Sepulveda Blvd., 3rd Floor
El Segundo, CA 90245
Contact: Bravo, Micah
Phone: (310) 846-0345

Complaint ID: 12345678
Complaint Classification:

Complaint Description - Posted 7/24/2009 9:55:32 AM

I have a total of 6 accounts with your service and run a reputable linkshell on the server Odin of your FFXI MMORPG service. My CC was stolen which I reported to the CC company which resulted in a new card# and the auto deactivation of 3 of my accounts. I then registered my first account with the new CC with no problems. When I registered the 2nd account, I got a UCS-XXXXXX error. I finally got it activated with a different CC #. I decided to wait one day to activated the last account, which is the account in question. I activated the 3rd account with no problems with the card that originally had the UCS-XXXXX error. On July 10, 2009 I discovered the account I had activated with the first card had been banned with a LM-17 message. I called your Information center and a nice gentleman put in a ban complaint and said they could do nothing else. I've spoken with a Melanie K which was by far the rudest person I've ever spoken with from POL in which she made myself and others feel like we were criminals. Another Rep has told me my account was mass banned and that the reason was "RMT activity" in which more then one person has access to my account. I've explained that I have AT&T DSL at work, Charter Internet at home, 2 sprint aircards, and 1 verizon access card as I work at a security company, that I occasionally access my account from different locations. On top of all of this I have a Security token on this account and all other accounts are fine.

Complaint Summary

My account in FFXI has not been unbanned after being banned wrongfully through a mass banning tool after reactivating my accounts with a new CC.
Resolution Sought

I would like Square Enix to take another look at my account POLID# ABCD1234 in a timely fashsion as its been over 10 days in which I have received no response in this matter. I'm told that I will be contacted if they choose to unban this account and never contacted if they decide otherwise. CHECK YOUR LOGS, this is a linkshell storage account, with all of the work and our worth in the last 6 years on it. YOU HAVE WRONGFULLY BANNED THIS ACCOUNT. I awaiting an answer.

Additional Information
Date Problem First Occurred:
7/8/2009
Product or Service: Japanese MMORPG gaming services localized in US and EU terrorties.
Model Name or Number: Final Fantasy XI
Date Purchased:
Order Number:
Amount In Dispute: $0.00

Company's Response

Company's Initial Response - Posted 07/24/2009
We apologize to our customer for any frustration or problems they have experienced in this situation. Also, we apologize if the customer feels that they were mistreated or disrespected in any way while speaking with a representative at PlayOnline. Our management team will be made aware of the situation. While we cannot address account specific inquiries without proper verification through any other means of communication than with the PlayOnline Information Center (phone and chat), we are able to discuss policy. As stated within the Member Agreement under Article 4: (Ownership, Rights, and Restrictions) Section 4.4 (Revocation of User Rights), Square Enix shall reserve the right in its sole discretion to revoke or suspend the PlayOnline user account and the ability to use PlayOnline services at any time without prior notice to the user, particularly but not limited to, if SEI should determine (in its sole discretion) or should reasonably believe that the user is responsible for, or have participated in, any Prohibited Activities. This customer is welcome to contact the PlayOnline Information Center during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm PST, for further clarification on the banned account; however, there will be no reversal of the action taken to this account.

Initial Response Summary

The customer is welcome to contact PlayOnline for further clarification on the banned account; however, there will be no reversal of the action taken on this account.

My Rebuittal

"if SEI should determine (in its sole discretion) or should reasonably believe that the user is responsible for, or have participated in, any Prohibited Activities"

While I understand the need to protect the service you are providing, the company needs to recognize the possibility of mistakes being made while determining these activities. As with any automated system, there is always a chance of error.

Square Enix needs to understand that the relationship between customer and service provider is a privilege is not a right. It’s important to maintain a relationship and understand the customer before making choices that affect the overall integrity of the service.

The account in question has the extended description from your reps “more then one person has access to the account.” I’ve spoken with your reps which can’t understand why it was banned as there is a security token on it, and the emergence of aircards, and tethered 3g networks will appear as though different entities are accessing an account. Closure of this account didn’t’ just affect myself, but many that believe in your service.

My complaint has not been resolved as I intend to continue to purse this with your Information Center.

I appreciate the response whether it is in or not in my favor.

[Gippo]

Gummybear, you might have received a better response had you taken the time to check your responses for basic punctuation and grammar errors.

In business, it really does matter.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

"As stated within the Member Agreement under Article 4: (Ownership, Rights, and Restrictions) Section 4.4 (Revocation of User Rights), Square Enix shall reserve the right in its sole discretion to revoke or suspend the PlayOnline user account and the ability to use PlayOnline services at any time without prior notice to the user, particularly but not limited to, if SEI should determine (in its sole discretion) or should reasonably believe that the user is responsible for, or have participated in, any Prohibited Activities."


The simple term "but not limited to" allows them the right to revoke for reasons other than Prohibited Activities if they so choose. Considering that, they did not go outside of the agreement that they disclosed upon usage of the account and that you as a customer agreed to. Perhaps the argument to change their member agreement would be more useful.

I think there is more valid argument with the attitude of the reps that you spoke with, since being treated poorly is something the BBB can look into and encourage businesses to re-train employees or fire managers. As for the punctuation and spelling, I find it more difficult to understand the use of symbols and acronyms than I do the errors.

Also as the response stated, "Our management team will be made aware of the situation". An indication that some one in management is being made aware is a good thing.

[Gummybear]

Actually puncutation all that other spelling crap doesn't matter. The response was the same, I typed that up in under 10 mins while leaving from work.

On my post for allkhazam other people have posted the response from SE and its IDENTICAL to mine, meaning they are just copying and pasting all complaints made to the BBB.

BTW, I used symbols and acronyms because they give you exactly 1600 characters to use for your entire complaint. I remember using every last character and shortening words in order to put more into it.

Any other explanations needed? I posted this as a service to all of, to spare you the trouble should this happen to you. I'm aware of 4 responses now that are identical word for word from SE.

[shaddix]

Yeah that's the exact reply I received after I had already recovered mine. Fucking sons of bitches.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Actually puncutation all that other spelling crap doesn't matter. The response was the same, I typed that up in under 10 mins while leaving from work.

On my post for allkhazam other people have posted the response from SE and its IDENTICAL to mine, meaning they are just copying and pasting all complaints made to the BBB.

BTW, I used symbols and acronyms because they give you exactly 1600 characters to use for your entire complaint. I remember using every last character and shortening words in order to put more into it.

Any other explanations needed? I posted this as a service to all of, to spare you the trouble should this happen to you. I'm aware of 4 responses now that are identical word for word from SE.

No explaining needed, I think it is a good idea to express grievances through proper channels no matter the response you get from them because you certainly will not be heard by inaction. What you said about the symbols makes sense, I didn't know they had a character limit .

[Gummybear]

Should you ever need to file a report, they give you like 500 chars to state the summary, 1600 for the actual complaint, 160 chars for the description, and like 60 chars for one of the other fields. Felt like "we don't want you to properly explain".

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Should you ever need to file a report, they give you like 500 chars to state the summary, 1600 for the actual complaint, 160 chars for the description, and like 60 chars for one of the other fields. Felt like "we don't want you to properly explain".

Thanks for the info. This would be a nightmare for me considering I have major issues with writing anything in short form.

[Aksannyi]

Someone should complain that they just keep giving people the same recycled form response without even taking a look at individual accounts. Especially considering one such person got their account back but was told they wouldn't be given their account back after they already got it.

[Saithorx]

I believe they have a random response generator that they click for different situations. It always sounds like you are talking to a machine if it isn't over the phone.

[Aksannyi]

Even then it still does.

[Aksannyi]

Apologies for the double post.

I had put off calling on my mule account because, frankly, I couldn't be bothered to talk to these people again after all the hassle they've put me through. Well, I finally got around to it today, and the guy I spoke to informed me that my mule account was permanently banned.

I told the guy I was pretty confused, considering I went through the same thing on my main account last month and that it was unbanned, yet this account wouldn't be? Same set of credit cards, same name on the accounts, so how is one illegal but another is not?

He merely said he'd submit a ban complaint for the account. I don't really give that much of a shit because it was my mule, but I did have plenty of things on the account that I didn't want to lose, and a few things I wanted to give to a friend before the end of the month.

This just further reinforces my decision that I should stop playing, if they're going to jerk people around like this. How are two accounts under the same name, using the same cards that also have my name on them checked and resolved differently? I'm personally baffled. I told him to submit the ban complaint and place a note on it that I have two accounts with the same situation. I want to know why one was banned and the other wasn't.

This further cements their stupidity in my brain.