Problems with POL Billing

[Jeryhn]

Not really pertaining to FFXI itself, but rather POL service.

I found out an account that I no longer use was hacked and the person who hacked it used my credit card info not only to transfer the character to another server, they also added five expansions worth to that POL account. Charged a good $110 or so to my card. This credit card is also the same one used to pay for my own account. Yeah I know, inb4 big mistake, should have erased the info, etc.

The account had not been accessed by me or anyone else since October 2008 (and was played exclusively on a PS2). I became an internet detective for a few hours as I dissected the info I could acquire from no longer having access to the account and found out what they charged to my credit card and when they charged it, on top of the server it was moved to. Even made a mule on that server and confronted the guy operating the account as he was playing it, said he "bought" it from someone on QQ (a Chinese version of MSN).

Anyway, I called SE and they confirmed that it was fraud, removed my information from that account, and banned the account (its no longer searchable under my POL Friend List since I first called the Support Center). However, two weeks later I get an email saying:

Dear XXXXX,

After reviewing your refund request we are unable to verify fraudulent activity. Based on this review we will not be able to honor the refund request. This request is denied at this time due to the results of the investigation.

Thank you
SQUARE ENIX Support Center

There was no call-back number or name I could talk to. Replying to the email just got me an automated message about some bullshit my ticket wasn't even about.

When I called and asked, I was basically told there was absolutely no recourse and that the decision was final. When I was told that the supervisor had communicated this to both agents at the Support Center when I called today, I asked to speak to the supervisor and was denied. The agents said he was busy... though really, I could hear him in the fucking background telling the agents what to tell me on the phone. I also tried verifying the account information since I did have access to it before it was hacked (which was verified the first time I called the Support Center and got the account banned, none of the info had been changed then), but since I removed my info from the account to prevent being charged, they told me I could not verify the account details and refused to help me by going that route.

After asking to speak to the supervisor directly multiple times, the agent just hung up on me.

The second agent I called today had the same hard line to tell me, though he was a little more helpful. He told me to put my account on a different card and then dispute the charges with my bank on the old card. Now... I know that placing payment disputes is a good way to get my account LM-17'd, so my questions are thus:

- If I place a dispute on charges to the fraudulent account, how soon can I expect a LM-17 on the authorized account? Note that I'm only disputing the individual charges to my card, not all of the SE charges. Will they wait until the end of this month and then ban attempt to ban Jeryhn if the credit card info isn't changed, or will they drop the hammer as soon as they get wind of the request?

- Assuming the latter, how many days after I put in the dispute can I expect my authorized account to be banned?

- I don't have a second credit card, and really, I can't get another one anytime soon. I could ask a friend or someone to put my account info on their card. I would like to do this on my own if at all possible. Is the timeframe right for this, or should I just get my main account on another card ASAP, and then dispute the charges (and then, of course, work on getting a new card)?

- How likely am I to get my money back, realistically?

Alternatively, if you can't help here and if you see a motherfucker named Angelisse somehow still up on Bismarck server, tell them to eat a dick. Thanks.

[Shadida]

Same exact thing happened to me. I was told I'd be refunded the money, then nothing happened. I'm just happy some prick isn't using my card anymore.

[Shenrien]

Call your bank and tell them there had been fraudulent charges with your card that you had not made and they should take care of it from there, expect the account to be banned tho, so I hope you didn't intend on using it for anything.

[Apelila]

I'm kind of interested how they got your information if its only been on PS2.

Your CC company has a window of time for you to be able to dispute charges. IMO, get a prepaid card, change the account you want to keep over then have the charges reversed after the next billing cycle. No garuntee's both won't get affected because this is SE"s shitty service we're talking about, but at least you get your money back.

[Shadida]

The issue I wanted to avoid was my credit card bouncing for all FFXI charges. I still want to play, I just didn't want some bastard using my card for their account. Idk if the bank will fix specific charges from the same vendor.

[Aquilo86]

Kinda related but not really... One of my accounts was charged 98.95 for last month, only extra charges should have been a server transfer and new abyssea expansion. I know better than to fight it though or that account plus the other 2 accounts on that card will get bant. This company is sorta ridiculous.

Post count +1

[machiko]

I know better than to fight it though or that account plus the other 2 accounts on that card will get bant. This company is sorta ridiculous.

If I worked for Square in the billing dept I would goto town making extra charges, the company is setup to disuade anyone taking action on any wrong charges so its a ticket to ride. I would be amazed if someone wasnt doing it honestly.

I've had a few overcharges in my time and given how they deal with you if you try to rectify it I just left them go, they were fairly low overcharges but still it shows just how bad they are.

[Pixi]

If you value your active account, honestly, I'd suggest just sucking it up and eating the charge. You've had your CC info removed from the other account, so you won't have future fraudulent charges to worry about regarding it.

You do not want to have to deal with having to try to get your main account unbanned over a chargeback. Trust me, it's a nightmare. I had my secondary account and two mule accounts LM-17'd on Aug. 30 for "chargebacks", even though I've never actually initiated any chargebacks for any POL account (nor would I, after reading the horror stories about such bannings). As it stands thus far, I've faxed in my driver's license, along with corresponding POL IDs and ticket numbers, had the fax confirmed as received by one CS rep, and then been told that it was never received by every rep I've spoken to since then. I don't know how a fax goes from being received and recorded as received to vanishing, but oh well. Next round will include faxing in conjunction with sending the information via certified mail.

And as icing on the cake, my main account, while not banned, is on the same card as the banned accounts, so it's like I have a little black raincloud following my main character around everywhere she goes.