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SOE - Katrina Victim Suspended Billing
Promyntheus
Member Posts: 23
Greetings and welcome to my post.
I happened upon this forum and read the rules and decided to submit a post here of my current experience with SOE Customer Support and their "True" actions for the so-called "Suspended Billing" for Katrina Victims.
A bit about myself.
I live in Slidell, Louisiana and love to game. In 2005, Katrina hit throwing my city into disarray.
For weeks after Katrina I slept on the floor of my home at night to keep cool since cool air is heavier. No power, no ac, using the pool water to flush the toilet since we had no running water. Celebrating the days when Wal-mart and Sam's were the first to start giving away bags of ice and bananas. My wife works in the hospital her services were needed after the storm as well as the income.
Reason for this the above you are asking yourself? To get ready for the SOE reality. That has unfolded for me and my wife over the last week and a half. Read ON (as copied pasted from myspace blog):
Reason for this Blog:
After failing to plead my case to one Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ employed with Sony Online Entertainment in regards to Star Wars Galaxies, I have brought my plead to the public for resolution.
In 2005, my wife and I sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina (Slidell, Louisiana) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_katrina. We sustained thousands of dollars of damage to home, car and lost wages. Two years later we are still repairing our home from this catastrophic storm.
Prior to Katrina SOE launched an online game called Star Wars Galaxies (SWG). My wife and I both have yearly accounts paying $143.99 a year.
Recently while logging on to play SWG, I saw a message to subscribers that said:
"In the summer of 2005 Hurricane Katrina left an incredible wake of destruction across the Gulf Coast of the United States. The damage done by the hurricane was unprecedented and impacted countless lives. In response to the hurricane, SOE suspended billing for over 13,000 players living in the affected areas to give them the time they needed to recover.
For the two years that have followed, the accounts of the affected SOE gamers have not been billed but have been preserved. Beginning on Monday, September 17th, the accounts for these 13,000 SOE gamers will resume the normal billing processes. If you lived in an area affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 please check your account information before September 17th to ensure that everything is accurate and there is no disruption in your ability to play.
Our best wishes go out to all those who were affected by the disaster and we'd like to thank our SOE players for their continued patronage."
If the thread on SOE forums still exists, it can be found here:
"Forum Post by GreyPawn about Suspended Billing for Katrina Victims"
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/posts/list.m?topic_id=476483
Well, upon reading this message for the first time less than two weeks ago (today being September 17, 2007). I promptly contacted SOE customer support. For you see, in 2005 and 2006, my wife's account and my accounts were both charge the yearly fee of $143.99.
I spoke with Jeramiah J. with customer support. I explained in detail our situation. I was put on hold numerous times while Jeramiah spoke with his supervisor. One of the questions asked by Jeramiah was something to the effect of:
"Why did it take you this long to bring this up"
I told Jeramiah that my recent reading of the start screen message was the first I have heard of this "Suspended Billing" for Katrina victims, my wife and I had NEVER been contacted about it after Katrina (No phone call, no email, no postal correspondence) so we NEVER KNEW!
When the charges came through on our cards we had no reason to think anything was wrong.
Jeramiah, put me on hold one last time and came back saying that he best he could do as per his supervisor was to extend both our accounts 30 days. I asked for Jeramiah's employee ID number, he told me that they only go by first name and last initial. He suggested I speak with Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ and he gave me his email address: LT_ttl_@___.com. I asked Jeramiah to give me the name of the supervisor with whom he was speaking with, he said "Lyman T_ttl_". I then expressed how pointless it was for me to obtain Mr. T_ttl_'s email address to plead my case since Mr. T_ttl_ has already made his decision by offering 30 day account extensions (hardly the $143.99 per year that was promised to Katrina Victims)
After hanging up the phone, I decided to contact my credit card company and explain how SOE made the promise to suspend billing for subscribers affected by Katrina then, thanks to Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ reneged on that promise. I currently have 2005 and 2006 charges pending dispute with my Credit Card company.
Upon completing that phone conversation I then contacted my local news station www.wdsu.com to enlighten them to the situation my wife and I are dealing with from Mr. Lyman T_ttl_'s decision. WDSU has an investigative report team called "6 on your side". I have not had a reply back from them yet with regards to this situation.
I have attempted contact with Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ directly via email requesting his supervisor's name with no reply.
I placed a live chat request today (September 17, 2007):
This was my request:
"I need to speak to the supervisor of Lyman T_ttl_ with regards to the charges on my and my wife's accounts for hurricane Katrina victims. We took a direct hit from Katrina living in Slidell, Louisiana and were billed 2005 and 2006 yearly subscriptions. I spent 30 minutes on hold on Thursday or Friday with regards to this matter. I also sent Mr. T_ttl_ and email with regards to this with no response. Mr. T_ttl_s concern on this was why we waited so long to dispute these charges... we NEVER were informed about the "suspended billing for affected Katrina Vicitims" We only found out about this issue less than 2 weeks ago when logging on to play and seeing it on the startup screen.
I will be seeking alternate methods to resolve this issue if lack of communication on SOE parts continues.
Regards,
Lloyd __________
and on behalf of my wife Christy ________"
The conversation with support staff is as follows:
"TSR Mario N:Hi, my name is TSR Mario N. One moment please, while I read your question.
TSR Mario N: Regretfully My Lyman T_ttl_ is the final authority when it comes to refunds. If he is to deny one there is no one who can overrule that decision.
You: I hope Mr. T_ttl_ is put in the position my wife and I have been put in thanks to SOE with regards to the promises of suspended billing then denied that.
TSR Mario N: My deep apologies and sympathy Lloyd, I truly do feel for you in this matter.
You: Keep an eye out on youtube... you'll be seeing our situation appear there in the next week or two with regards to Mr. T_ttl_'s 30 day extension offer and declining the refunds that a direct hit of Katrina vicitims were denied.
TSR Mario N: I will be sure to report this on your behalf, Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
You: Nope, use to this kinda crap happening after being with the game since nearly day one... patches, upgrades, bug fixes now broken promises. Thanks for your help Mario."
With the conclusion of this live online chat I then posted this blog to myspace.com
My next step is to enlighten the other subscribers as to the false promises that can and will happen as long as Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ is employed by Sony Online Entertainment via a Youtube presentation. (an HTTP link will be supplied here when the presentation is on youtube for viewing.)
After 5 years of playing, and hours upon hours invested in SWG.... this will probably get my accounts cancelled.... and why? Because Mr. Lyman T_ttl_ reneged on an SOE promise to help Katrina Victims... hardly seems fair...
Regards,
SWG Disappointed (again) Subscriber,
Lloyd
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Update (09/18/2007)
Received email from Lyman stating:
"Thank you for contacting Sony Online Entertainment. I am a bit confused on what exactly you are asking for. Are you asking for a refund for both yearly subscription charges made in 2005 and 2006? On 9/2/2005 to show some compassion to the Katrina victims, SOE had froze all subscription time until the user had logged into the account. This means that your account will not be activated unless "a" character is physically logged back into the game. I don't see how a refund is warranted as 2005 and 2006 yearly prepaid subscription charges were in fact used. Our records show hundreds, if not thousands, of consistent character logins from 10/26/2005 - today. I'm willing to provide you a time extension in the amount of 60 days which is about the difference between 9/2/2005 and 10/26/2005. Are you willing to accept this offer and consider this issue closed? This will be the limit of what SOE can provide you"
With this reply from Lyman in mind and the message by SOE to Katrina Victims listed above, specifically the line:
" In response to the hurricane, SOE suspended billing for over 13,000 players living in the affected areas to give them the time they needed to recover".
"Giving" a subscriber and Victim of Katrina time to recover versus actually logging on are two totally different things. Care to come and repair our fence Lyman? How about repair our ceilings that have remains of water damage. Then there is a room that still needs to be tiled. $$$ and time. Never enough of either to do what needs to be done. 60 day extensions cannot pay for the materials to pay for these things.... but the amounts billed to my wife and I over the last 2 years ("...SOE suspended billing...to give them the time they needed to recover.") now that billed amount could do alot for a home.
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Update (09/18/2007)
I spoke with my Boss's wife and talked to her about everything I have been dealing with about the SOE Hurricane Katrina message posted on SOE forums. She is not versed in Business ethics but based on the verbage of the Sony site there is possibility of a class action lawsuit against SOE. SOE actions do not match the wording of what they claim they would do or have done for Katrina victims.
As I find out more, it will be posted here.
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Update (09/18/2007)
Used www.FindLaw.com to find a lawyer that deals in Class Action Lawsuits (Plantiffs) Emailed a local law firm the situation I am in with regards to SOE public forum post and the verbage used and how SOE actions do not match what they said they would do or have done. (Awaiting reply ~ estimated 24 hours for contact)
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Update (09/19/2007)
To give an analogy:
"If you reply to this post I will buy you a Mercedes."
But, what the statement MEANS is that I will buy you a "Hot Wheels Mercedes"
SOE, Saying what you mean and Meaning what you Say are two DIFFERENT things.
There was NO "SUSPENDED" Billing... but only "DEFERRED" Billing until the Katrina Victims logged on, even if just to tell their friends that they were alive and doing okay. Having an escape from the hellish reality they we were currently forced to live in. The hellish reality that came into focus 2 years later when SOE now claims that it was until the Victims logged on, and NOT until the Victims had what SOE stated as "...suspended billing for over 13,000 players living in the affected areas to give them the time they needed to recover. "
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=11000350
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
Comments
While I can understand your position here, I'm afraid I have to agree with SOE in this case. They are willing to give you two free months, I'd take that on the two accounts and call it a day. This is after all two years later and from an outside prespective SOE might think you are trying to run a scam to get money from them.
In any case, from what I understand, the paused billing only had to do with accounts that were active in the sense of being able to be billed, but the players were not able to log in because of damages resulting from Katrina. In your case you were actually logging into the game. You are looking to get a free pass for the time you spent actually playing the game. The purpose of SOEs offer was to not bill people who weren't playing, but had active accounts. In truth SOE probably did this in order to not lose 13,000 subs. 13k people not able to log in would likley attempt to cancle their accounts and SOE didn't want this so they gave these people a pass.
While I sympathize with what you went through, having gone through hardship does not entitle you to free stuff. I'm sure there are quite a few SWG gamers whose houses have burnt down, whoes homes were burgalarized, who lost their jobs, etc. in non-Katrina related situations. None of those people likley got one cent out of SOE.
The bottom line is SOE didn't have to do anything for Katrina Vics. Therefore I don't think you have a legit gripe complaing that they didn't do enough for you meanwhile they didn't have to anything at all for you. My advise is take the free 2 months they are offering and be happy with it. Dont' be one of those guys who causes a stink because they didn't get the free stuff they thought they were entitled too. In honesty I think it makes you look bad, when you are probably a decent guy.
Far by it from me to play the grammar police but it's spelled reneged.
The way you've written it looks a little odd.
Nevertheless that's an interesting predicament, and I applaud you for taking action agaisnt what you feel is an injustice.
Good luck, and I'll watch for further developments.
ty, fixed the errors in spelling.
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
What I would like to see SOE do with regards to their "aid"
1) Publicly and Clearly state what they said they did for Katrina Victims, the PR stunt they pulled has many subscribers under the impressions SOE GAVE play time to the victims until the victims recovered. SOE did no such thing.
or
2) Have billing suspended until Victims Recover (As SOE said they would do). Want to come fix my fence? or our water damaged ceiling? We still have a living room floor to replace. SOE made no mention of logging in, billing would resume (And if they did, it was not ample time for victims to see it). If SOE had, I would not have logged in.
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
If I remember correctly, there was an announcement on the suspended billing for Katrina victims for about a month after the hurricane hit with directions on how to get it ti take effect. Not being one myself I didn't look into it too deeply at the time though. I do remember thinking that one month might not have been enough time to have left the announcement up for all possible victims to be able to see it.
It was a while ago, and the old noggin isn't what it used to be I'm sad to say.
"Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received
with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him."
- Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce
I searched an internet history database:
The site backs up and archives websites on the internet. I searched all the saved forum posts under Announcements from SOE during the months September through Decemeber of 2005 as well as every 2 weeks thereafter. There was no mention of SOE "Aid" in their posts.
The time limit they left this for the public to view was not enough time for Victims to see. It was so short that even the the database was not able to archive it... or it was deleted. There was only one entry for September 2005 and it was before Katrina. The first archive in October did not have the Katrina Post.
http://web.archive.org/web/
Search for:
http://forums.station.sony.com
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
SOE being their usual weasaly selves. Just goes to show you that they made the announcement for PR and not for substance.
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
...The spread of secondary and latterly of tertiary education has created a large population of people, often with well developed literary and scholarly tastes, who have been educated far beyond their capacity to undertake analytical thought.
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
Yeah, what he said...
We live in Slidell and took a direct hit... still recovering... and we have credit card statements billed for 2005 and 2006 $143.99 each year per account (my wife and I). SOE gave NOTHING FREE.... as their PR made it look.
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
When they turn the billing back on for these 13,000 accounts that have been in-active will these players be charged even though they haven't played the game for 2 years. If so it sounds like a great way to make up for some of the subs they have lost in the last few months.
I don't claim to be right, I'm just posting.
Uhm, not really a topic I care to chime in on, but I am left with a curiosity. So, quick and easy question for the OP: Were you, or were you not continuing to play for the past couple of years during the suggested time of not billing? (As I believe I read something about them stating there were continued logins) Not something I wish to debate, just a curiosity I wish to quell.
Thing is, there's a good chance a lot of people wouldn't have been aware of that due to the original wording of the press release. So I'd be willing to bet there's a lot of people out there in the same position. I love it when PR teams spin comes back to bite them on the arse.
...The spread of secondary and latterly of tertiary education has created a large population of people, often with well developed literary and scholarly tastes, who have been educated far beyond their capacity to undertake analytical thought.
Sounds like SOE have been quite fair here, but that's just an opinion.
From the sound of your post, had you not heard anything about it, you would not have any qualms. What SOE seem to have done is frozen the billing of anyone unable to login, which I think was great.
I am sorry your home was damaged and you went through a tough time, but I can't see SOE being that much at fault. Sure their PR department may have made things sound a little more impressive, but they can't have been putting it on billboards, or anouncing it to the world, or you would have heard about it long before now.
I think you should just take the decision, either you enjoy the game and take the 60 days offered, or you accept the game is not that great, you vow never to play an SOE game again and get back on with your life. I am sure there must be other important issues for you to deal with. But to chase this further, sounds like alot of stress.
Sorry if I don;t agree with you. I am sorry you went through such hardship and such, but I don't think SOE have done that much wrng, in fact it was nice to know they suspended billing for people unable to log in, they didn't have to.
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
Yeah, what he said...
We live in Slidell and took a direct hit... still recovering... and we have credit card statements billed for 2005 and 2006 $143.99 each year per account (my wife and I). SOE gave NOTHING FREE.... as their PR made it look.
IMO
Someone has not fully understood what was offered. They offered suspended billing for those in the effected area on the assumption that anyone from that area not logging in didn't because they couldn't or it was the last thing on their list of things to do.
If or when someone logged in using an account from within the area effected then it would be deamed unnecessary to suspend their billing any further. Maybe you read the message and thought "great SOE are giving anyone effected by Katrina 2 years free gaming", if so you were sadly mistaken.
I see in the response from Lyman he writes;
"Our records show hundreds, if not thousands, of consistent character logins from 10/26/2005 - today."
Hurricane Katrina struck in August 23rd 2005, you logged in 26th October 2005. Yes you prepaid the $143.99 but they are offering you 60 days refund which is in line with your login history, presuming Lyman speaks the truth. Maybe they could offer 60 days on each account ( I assume you have 2, and he has not already offered this ).
found this in the Red Cross Announcement on the EQ2 site. But it is also on SOE main news site.
Please Lend a Helping Hand In the Wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina has left an incredible wake of destruction across the south. Sony Online Entertainment would like to ask you to take a moment to make a donation to the American Red Cross in order to help alleviate some of the suffering.
In EverQuest II we have added the /donate command, type in /donate to be taken to the American Red Cross's Hurricane 2005 relief page. For those members of SOE Communities in other games, you can contribute using this link, American Red Cross. The American Red Cross will process your donation and make sure that it is put to maximum use to help those whose lives have been affected by the hurricane.
Additionally, for our 13,000+ players actually in the affected areas, we will be suspending billing until such time as they are able to play again. In addition, any items or structures in any of our games, which decay over time, will be preserved until the user's next login.
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.
The SOE Family
[dated Saturday September 3, 2005 ]
Here is a link to something else about it http://playstation.about.com/b/a/199333.htm?terms=namco+museum
As you can see it says suspended until they are able to play again. I think that the OP should have looked harder.
What the yellow message states is that if you were affected [meaning "Could not log in and play" NOT meaning lived in the area but got your internet back in a month or 60 days], they would not charge you for the time when you couldn't play [which is why they offered you the free time - to compensate for the time you couldn't play] They are telling people who couldn't log on that they could get a refund [or were not charged to begin with], NOT people who used their service during that time.
You're looking for something for nothing! You may get an unscrupulous lawyer to take your case, and you may get a jury as stupid as OJ's, but you may also get a judge with some common sense who throws your case out [I suggest that you make sure that the lawyer's fees come out of the settlement and not upfront!]
<p align=center><a target=_blank href=http://www.nodiatis.com/personality.htm><img border=0 src=http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/20.jpg></a></p>;
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
Precisely. SOE NEVER speaks straight up and honest, they speak with a forked tongue. They did one thing while spinning it to sound like something else.
In other words, they didn't do this for any reason other than for PR.
Acts of kindness and charity should be judged by the intentions and the results. Clearly SOE's intentions were to generate positive PR (and they are a company desperate for that since nothing good gets written about them except in forums where they pay for it), and not to do good.
If SOE meant what their PR stated, they would have refunded the guy his money.
Instead, this chief beancounter acted like Gollum.
They deserve all the crap they get for being caught on this.
This is just yet another example of SOE as an unethical, deceitful company. They are managed by people who would likely feed their own grandmothers to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal for 5 seconds of good PR.
They won't actually do anything constructive for PR though. Hell, the best PR they could get would be to take the classic server code and upload it onto spare servers. It'd cost them very little (except in management ego and pride) and would achieve a lot. It wouldn't even cost them the $10K they allegedly gave to Habitat for Humanity (I won't believe it unless I see the cancelled check, this is SOE we are talking about).
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
Precisely. SOE NEVER speaks straight up and honest, they speak with a forked tongue. They did one thing while spinning it to sound like something else.
In other words, they didn't do this for any reason other than for PR.
Acts of kindness and charity should be judged by the intentions and the results. Clearly SOE's intentions were to generate positive PR (and they are a company desperate for that since nothing good gets written about them except in forums where they pay for it), and not to do good.
If SOE meant what their PR stated, they would have refunded the guy his money.
Instead, this chief beancounter acted like Gollum.
They deserve all the crap they get for being caught on this.
This is just yet another example of SOE as an unethical, deceitful company. They are managed by people who would likely feed their own grandmothers to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal for 5 seconds of good PR.
They won't actually do anything constructive for PR though. Hell, the best PR they could get would be to take the classic server code and upload it onto spare servers. It'd cost them very little (except in management ego and pride) and would achieve a lot. It wouldn't even cost them the $10K they allegedly gave to Habitat for Humanity (I won't believe it unless I see the cancelled check, this is SOE we are talking about).
I like many of you work off of what you think they said in 2005 and not what they said. Once again America feels they have been wronged because they do not get something for nothing.
Quit the paranoia people. There is nothing weaselly about SOE giving loyal customers who were down and out after a natural disaster a two year free sub to a freakin' game! Look around, EVERY corporation pats themselves on the backs for any sort of remotely charitable work they've done. That's why these huge corporations HAVE PR departments. Tooting their own horn about it doesn't discredit what they did. And besides, it is a very nice gesture, but it's not like they're Habitat for Humanity rebuilding houses impacted by Katrina.
You made the assumption everyone else made right there. They gave everyone effected by Katrina, 2 years free subs, how could they possibly be berated for that? What great PR!
What they actually did was cancel the debits from the subscribers accounts until they logged on. So, for example, if your house was decimated, you were made homeless but managed to pop onto a friends or relatives pc in the interim to log onto SWG to let everyone know you were ok they recommenced the billing. So yeah, it's a great gesture if they actually carried through as their PR department decided to spin it. Unfortunately they didn't and they deserve every bit of flack they get for it.
Precisely. SOE NEVER speaks straight up and honest, they speak with a forked tongue. They did one thing while spinning it to sound like something else.
In other words, they didn't do this for any reason other than for PR.
Acts of kindness and charity should be judged by the intentions and the results. Clearly SOE's intentions were to generate positive PR (and they are a company desperate for that since nothing good gets written about them except in forums where they pay for it), and not to do good.
If SOE meant what their PR stated, they would have refunded the guy his money.
Instead, this chief beancounter acted like Gollum.
They deserve all the crap they get for being caught on this.
This is just yet another example of SOE as an unethical, deceitful company. They are managed by people who would likely feed their own grandmothers to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal for 5 seconds of good PR.
They won't actually do anything constructive for PR though. Hell, the best PR they could get would be to take the classic server code and upload it onto spare servers. It'd cost them very little (except in management ego and pride) and would achieve a lot. It wouldn't even cost them the $10K they allegedly gave to Habitat for Humanity (I won't believe it unless I see the cancelled check, this is SOE we are talking about).
"Additionally, for our 13,000+ players actually in the affected areas, we will be suspending billing until such time as they are able to play again. In addition, any items or structures in any of our games, which decay over time, will be preserved until the user's next login."
Sorry, but I don't think it could be any clearer. I think SOE made a rather kind gesture by offering to hold fire on anyone that couldn't play or access their account becuase of Katrina. The OP seems to have managed to log in consistantly since October 2005 to the present day.
Spew as much SOE hatred as you desire, it adds nothing factual to this topic.
**Edit** You complain about SOE and PR, and yet ironically this thread has been posted in the SWG veteran refuge, full of foaming SOE haters.
We live in a day and age where rumors and contacts can be more reliable than news media, sorry, but I think that the OP has a point, if so many people got free subscription for two years, where are the people in this thread claiming as such? I hate SOE, but I'm not about to dismiss such a long and detailed post as a scam, especially when the stuff I see on the news is getting more and more unreliable to follow by the day, I don't think you have any right to go against this person if you don't even have the proof, it's like with hackers on World of Warcraft, so many people have been hacked in their accounts yet they are accused of trying throw hate at Blizzard even though they don't have any proof to prove otherwise, where's THEIR proof? I'm not going to listen to sod all of what the haters of the hater says because a few lines that have no facts or statements to back up what you say isn't going to get you anywhere.
Quit playing the SOE hater hate maybe?
Quoting people doesn't make you clever, in fact, it makes you all the more stupid for not bothering to read the quotes you post in the first place.
SOE did this, SOE did that. SOE did NOTHING. Saying and doing are two different things. Two years later my wife and I are still "RECOVERING". SOE used PR to make them look better for their already tarnished reputation for customer service. My wife and I both have charge card bills for 2005 and 2006.
No one affected by Katrina received "Free gaming" as SOE PR spun it.
"For the two years that have followed, the accounts of the affected SOE gamers have not been billed ..."
I got the service I paid for, which I do not deny, that is not my dispute. My dispute is with SOE and their PR using KATRINA to make them look as if they did something for victims when in reality... they did SQUAT.
Weeks after Katrina I regained access to being online and took full advantage of it after dealing with the hellish reality I had to deal with that Katrina forced upon me, my wife and family (pets). I don't want Sony's money. I want Sony to give Katrina Victims, ALL OF THEM.
A PUBLIC APPOLOGY FOR USING US, VICTIMS OF KATRINA TO MAKE SOE LOOK BETTER. NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?
Do you think SOE will ever publicly admit to using KATRINA as a PR stunt to brighten their image and risk losing more subscribers?
I highly doubt that.
Recovering from Katrina and jumping online to play games go hand in hand...
You may have only had power outage then resumed play... not much for recovery...
You may have come home to a slab, then moved in with relatives that were not affected and played online.
In which, that person is affected and still being charged.
No matter how you spin it or twist it or try to turn it... SOE did NOT help Katrina Victims in ANYWAY.
Only stopped billing the account until they played the game again.
If you do not stand-up for what you believe in... No one else will.
BBB=Useless see why:
http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/sponsors/major.html
Rumor and contacts are not going to win you a lawsuit.
I am sick of people making lawsuits over crap. At the slightest feeling of injustices people sue. Instead of getting the facts before hand they instantly talk of going to court to get justice. I hope the OP does sue and the court turns around and makes the OP pay all the court costs when he loses. That loss of cash will really fix his ceiling and fence. Instead of worrying about things he should he is baselessly attacking a company, that I personally do not like, that has done for once what they stated they would do.
Oh the humanity.
Please provide you proof that this helped no one. Some people in affected areas did not have the luxury of power being returned in weeks or a neighbor that was still connected. Some people I know of were without power for 3 months and no one around them had power for 3 months. So when you have statements from these people that they were not happy that they did not lose their stuff or have to pay then I will give you some credit. Till then you sound more like you are whining than anything else now.
I am not going to get into the whole "SOE is evil" discussion. In short, if you have in fact been playing for the two years, SOE did not violate any condition they stated on your behalf. I recall the post by them, and one of the other posters was good enough to locate for you the link you were unable to find. SOE stated that they would stop billing victims until such time as they were able to play again. If you were indeed playing, they were well within their limits, and you are in fact contractually bound to pay for the service. No court of law could rightly see otherwise. As for SOE helping or not helping the victims, they, just like every other major corporation or recording artist/performer got in front of cameras and asked for donations on your behalf, and that of the other victims. While what happened with Katrina was a tragedy and horror I would not wish upon anyone, SOE did do more than many other people (If you can call SOE "People" as it is a corporation) For you to place a demand upon them, or belittle THEM specifically for not doing more is rather unjust. If you require more out of them, perhaps you should begin a new thread here emanding that every other individual in the gaming industry give you money, or something for free as well... as, a large percentage of persons here did even less than SOE. I am sorry for what you have gone through, it is sad. I was JUST in New Orleans before the disaster unfolded. The beauty and culture are an unfortunate loss. SOE however is not to blame.