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Billing Policies
Arbadacarba
Member Posts: 304
I have yet to see a thread with this topic, however I've seen it discussed in threads where it wasn't the main topic.
For an example for this thread, I will display DAoC's initial billing policy regarding free trials:
Trial is compatible with US/Mythic servers only and requires the entry of a CD key provided below. A major credit card is required to validate your account but will not be charged during the trial period. Please note the credit card will be automatically charged at the end of the trial unless cancelled through the game client.
I'm wondering how many customers this policy scares away. I have standards and they keep me away from underhanded schemes no matter the significance of the consequences. I read that policy and immediately ask myself, "What if the game client doesn't run on my system?" I can't even imagine what kind of flaming hoops they would get me to jump through to cancel my subscription from anywhere other than the client. I can understand the requirement for a credit card in order to play their free trial. I can understand that cheaters probably abused the free trial, but to use such a crooked method as initial automatic billing is absurd. Initial automatic billing is only slightly crooked alone, but how am I supposed to know the subscription section of the game client isn't under construction or the wait to talk to customer support is not going to be worth the subscription fee? They are obviously hoping people forget to cancel the subscription or something along these lines. I'm not going to download the free trial; I'm not even going to search for DAoC on youtube to look at the gameplay.
Above all, I'm wondering if such obvious, unscrupulous sales strategies are making the companies that use them more money than they can chase away with pure, money-grubbing intimidation. Have you avoided a game because of dishonorable sales strategies?
Comments
Iiiiiiinteresting topic to go for. Billing practices are the quickest way to the black side of a customer's heart.
Above all, I'm wondering if such obvious, unscrupulous sales strategies are making the companies that use them more money than they can chase away with pure, money-grubbing intimidation. Have you avoided a game because of dishonorable sales strategies?
Being a penny pincher... yes. I won't risk spending a cent on something that I don't know for a fact I can afford and will be worth it. All in all though, while it's just opinion based on likely biased information, I've seen people be a lot looser with their money. Buy product X from store 1 cause it's closer even though store 2 has X for cheaper... buy products from "item malls" in F2P games even though there's a 50/50 chance it'll be worthless... or just happen to go a few days over on their "trial." All in all, the average person would get miffed, but wouldn't really miss the $10-20 enough to throw any form of serious fit that would cost the company more then they are gaining from this practice. After all, proliferation of free trial codes doesn't cost them very much and a lot of people jump on the chance because of the word "free."
To play devil's advocate though for the sake of conversation...
I could completely see a service justifying this automation as a convenience for subscribers. You can't bill everyone at the same time or one would complain that due to the time they subscribed they're being charged too early and aren't getting their money's worth. But if you handle it by account, someone might forget what precise time they signed up and paid and anyone would be displeased if they were cut off from the game whilst busy because the timer ran down.
But because I can't wear the neutral face forever, automated bill pay should always be an option left to the user to choose.
It should be noted though in DAoC's favor that I had a relatively easy time finding the info on how to cancel your account.
Anyone out there a Gametap player? I'm not personally, but I've seen enough complaints about them it might be a worthy contribution to the subject.
~~~~~
"Big surprise... there was no protection by this urban light..."
I dont forget to cancel my account, so ive never had a problem with this.
Hold on Snow Leopard, imma let you finish, but Windows had one of the best operating systems of all time.
If the Powerball lottery was like Lotro, nobody would win for 2 years, and then everyone in Nebraska would win on the same day.
And then Nebraska would get nerfed.-pinkwood lotro fourms
AMD 4800 2.4ghz-3GB RAM 533mhz-EVGA 9500GT 512mb-320gb HD
I don't remember what game it was any more, but once I spent nearly 10 minutes thinking about how to cancel my subcribtion without cancelling my account and losing my characters and the money I had paid for the game box. In the end it turned out that "cancel account" button didn't cancel my account, only my subcribtion.
Enter credit card.
hit cancel straight away
dont like game - walk away
whats the problem?
Seriously I have never once forgotton to cancel a game. If you really are careless enough to leave random games billing your credit card then I guess this is a problem for you.
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Note: PlayNC will refuse to allow you access to your account if you forget your password and can't provide a scanned image of the product key for the first product you purchased..... LOL
Yes i have, when ultima became ultima reborn i was curious to see what it was like so i took the trial. Two days later i ring my credit card company to go over the months payments before i recieve my initial statement and low and behold the costumer services rep tells me a payment was made to EA of 10 pounds for purchase of ultima reborn.....i wasnt impressed, my trial period hadnt even been up yet so i tried emailing EA .....3 months later and i still havent recieved one thing from EA's billing and account dept....not even an email confirming my query.