Hidden Fees?

DystopiaBoy

Hey guys,

 

I subscribed to AoC for a month. They charged me the $14.99 for the month, but then charged me another $0.45 cents as a "service charge". Has this happened to anyone else? Just checking before I call the bank.

 

Thanks guys!

Zarinh

Is it possible that charge was from your bank? I noticed when I subbed to Anarchy Online [Funcom's first MMO], my bank charges a small fee to convert the currency over.  Maybe that is the same thing as your service charge.

 

I could be wrong though.

DystopiaBoy

Originally posted by Zarinh


Is it possible that charge was from your bank? I noticed when I subbed to Anarchy Online [Funcom's first MMO], my bank charges a small fee to convert the currency over.  Maybe that is the same thing as your service charge.
 
I could be wrong though.

 

Ah, that makes sense. I will call my bank. Thanks!

bmdevine

I've never seen a bank classify an international transaction fee as a service charge, but you should definitely contact them to see if that is what it was.  If you're playing a game published by a foreign company, it's sometimes best to buy time cards if available from a domestic company to save on unnecessary transaction charges.

DystopiaBoy

Originally posted by bmdevine


I've never seen a bank classify an international transaction fee as a service charge, but you should definitely contact them to see if that is what it was.  If you're playing a game published by an foreign company, it's sometimes best to buy time cards if available from a domestic company to save on unnecessary transaction charges.

 

Well, I called the bank and they said it was a charge from FunCom, not the bank. So I've emailed FunCom to see what's up. Not sure if their customer service speed has improved or not. I'll just have to roll the dice and keep my fingers crossed.

DystopiaBoy

Okay, Funcom said it was a "piggyback" charge from Global Collect - their credit card handling company. So I supose I will get a .45 cent charge each month? Wow, this is the first MMO I've had this happen in. Darn economy!

Hamrtime2

Youre lucky its only 45 cents. For most people its around $1. But youre right...I have never seen another mmo...located here in the states or abroad make my bank charge me an extra fee for some international garbage....I take that back, Dark and Light pulled the same thing. Things that make yah go...hmmmmmmmmm.

Rayx0r

they tack on 11 cents to my bill each month

LisaUberfrau

I pay my monthly fee with a regular credit card, and do NOT have any extra charge.

A friend of mine pays with a Debit Card and he is charged $.45 cents extra per month.  When he called FunCom, they said his bank charged it for currency conversion.  That cannot be correct since the charge doesn't say anything like 'bank service fee', it lists FunCom and Global Collect in that $.45 cent charge.

And since you were told that Global Collect charges that extra fee, then GLOBAL EXTRA FEE IS MORE LIKELY.

But the customer service reps at FunCom should KNOW that.  Sounds to me like they are hiding that fact purposefully.

FURTHERMORE, since this just started happening approx. 2-3 months ago, I submit that FunCom had been stuck eating that $.45 cent charge and because of their financial problems, decided to put it back on the players - WITHOUT NOTIFYING THEM.

FURTHER FURTHERMORE, it is doubtful that the charge is 'new' since FunCom has a contract with Global to handle the credit card processing and they wouldn't be able to insert a new fee unless terms of the contract allowed it! 

I think it's more likely that FunCom decided to stop paying the fee to save money... BUT DID NOT INFORM THE PLAYERS.

Why is so hard for people to just do the right thing?  Notifying the people that would be affected would be THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

ANOTHER EPIC FAIL.