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Funcom credit card scam, watch out
z00p
Member Posts: 3
Just registered to warn people about a scam Funcom is brewing up. here are 2 images, one of my credit card statement, and the other of my aoc account details.
http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=detailslw5.jpg
http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=statementiq1.jpg
As you can see, I cancelled about 4 days before my renew date (i've read about how they charge people for cancelling the day before). So my renew date is on the 27th, I cancelled on the 23rd, and they charge my card on the 21st? There is absolutely no reason to charge my card almost a week before my renew date. So I call my credit card company to complain and they basically said they couldn't do anything about it because they charged me before I cancelled. I also checked my statement a couple days after I cancelled to make sure and I did not see a sub charge, only recently did it appear. I'm guessing once funcom knew I wasn't coming back they decided to put a charge a couple days before my cancellation date so I couldn't get my money back. Just wanted to warn everyone. And yes, my account is still frozen.
Comments
They did the same thing to my wife.
She went down to the bank, and actually made the bank manager pull up her Funcom account info. He saw she had canceled but was charged shortly before, even though it wasn't due to be charged. He also saw that her account was frozen and she explained it was unplayable, so therefore the charge wasn't legitimate.
She ended up getting her money back.
I know people will laugh, but if this has happened to enough people, a class action lawsuit could be a possibility. It's not everyone going to court individually, it's one representative of the whole group of people no matter how many there are.
This is bullshit, and Funcom is reminding me of Farlan (Dark and Light) more and more. I wonder how much money they have made doing this so far.
Gamer Plus+
Keep in mind if funcom goes under all the money they get doing this little scam will vanish like a thief in the night. Bit too perfect for a company near the edge if ask me.
This is very worrying, and though I am not versed in the technicalities, it would occur to me that billing you outside the stated billing date specifically to gain revenue from you before your cancel date hits - while ALSO not providing you the service that you PAID FOR (albeit unwillingly) - must be actual, punishable fraud.
It's also has happened to many other people, been seeing reports of this all over, I copy pasted one post about it from the AOC official forums to a thread here (the original got deleted as usual)
Roflmao, look at the dates. Working As Intended!
The Cancel Date - 2008/07/23 21:45:24
The Freeze Date - 2008/07/27 15:30:20
Next Payment Date - 2008/07/27 15:10:10
Sorry to be so blunt, but you got ripped the hell off. Hardcore XXX ripped off.
Things like that don't happen accidentally.
STOP WHINING!
holy **** that is messed up
can you format it all into a neat post with everything sourced, I know a guy I can send this to
Im not a fan of funcom at all... but you canceled on the 23rd... your card was charged on the 21st.
They charged you before you canceled.
his renewal date was on the 27th, he was charged early BECAUSE he cancelled
edit: emoticon messed up the quote
Normally you get charged the day of maybe the day after you renew for another 30-days, not almost a week before you renew. This sucks hard core.
didnt see the renewal date, yeah that kinda sucks
damn, you guys better act fast then, word on the street is that Funcom is working on a new scaMMO, so get that lawsuit going now so they cant develop and hype the hell out of that game next.
http://i34.tinypic.com/nxtirs.jpg
Looks like I'll be opening a lawsuit.
his renewal date was on the 27th, he was charged early BECAUSE he cancelled
Actually he was charged BEFORE he cancelled...so how did FC know he was gonna cancell before he did? Something doesn't add up here either way.
Charged July 21
Cancelled July 23
Account shutdown July 27.
I am no fan of FC...but this is poor proof of anything. Aside from the fact FC charged a week earlier than they were supposed to.
I sent a email with my lawyers' info and will be keeping up with this. Keep this thread alive and let more people notice.
his renewal date was on the 27th, he was charged early BECAUSE he cancelled
Actually he was charged BEFORE he cancelled...so how did FC know he was gonna cancell before he did? Something doesn't add up here either way.
Charged July 21
Cancelled July 23
Account shutdown July 27.
I am no fan of FC...but this is poor proof of anything. Aside from the fact FC charged a week earlier than they were supposed to.
OK, well then it's fair to say Funcom may be charging people in advance, knowing people will wait until about 3-4 days before their account is up to cancel.
Anyone talking lawsuits. Class action people. It sends a way bigger message, and the courts will take many peoples words for it over one persons.
Plus, like I said, you only need one representative for the whole group of people.
P.S. To people still playing, delete your CC info and add it again if you decide to renew.
Gamer Plus+
I sent a email with my lawyers' info and will be keeping up with this. Keep this thread alive and let more people notice.
You are seriously getting a lawyer involved? Your lawyer must be a relative. Personally, my time and money is too valuable to get a lawyer to pursue a $15 charge.
Even if you progressed this to a class action level, and your team of class action lawyers won their court case and everyone named was granted 100% of their losses - 100% of Funcom's nothing is still going to be nothing. Class action lawsuits only work against the big, thriving corporations. The slowly dying corporations only speed up their death.
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/28371832@N02/2648951313/[/url]
I sent a email with my lawyers' info and will be keeping up with this. Keep this thread alive and let more people notice.
If funcom tries this a second time in Sept the point can be made before a judge they are a habitual scammer.
http://easternnc.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=66&bbb=0593&firm=3001204
Could always go there for help. Be nice if folks empowered this service a little more. Then again, the company isn't under any obligation to respond.
You only have a possibility at a case here if funcom is KEEPING your money. Have you contacted them and asked for a refund? If they give you one... your fine.
his renewal date was on the 27th, he was charged early BECAUSE he cancelled
Actually he was charged BEFORE he cancelled...so how did FC know he was gonna cancell before he did? Something doesn't add up here either way.
Charged July 21
Cancelled July 23
Account shutdown July 27.
I am no fan of FC...but this is poor proof of anything. Aside from the fact FC charged a week earlier than they were supposed to.
OK, well then it's fair to say Funcom may be charging people in advance, knowing people will wait until about 3-4 days before their account is up to cancel.
Anyone talking lawsuits. Class action people. It sends a way bigger message, and the courts will take many peoples words for it over one persons.
Plus, like I said, you only need one representative for the whole group of people.
Still no fan of FC, but really...ppl need to learn to DELETE their payment info once they cancel an account...payment info is automatic, and if your info is there..you are taking a chance of being charged.
Plus...the account billing date would have started May 21st....the first official day of AoC release. So makes sence that June/July payments would have been on the 21st as well. Perhaps the OP should check previous month payment to see what day it came off.
I left AoC cause I didn't like the game...but I find the accusing of CC fraud going a little far.
his renewal date was on the 27th, he was charged early BECAUSE he cancelled
Actually he was charged BEFORE he cancelled...so how did FC know he was gonna cancell before he did? Something doesn't add up here either way.
Charged July 21
Cancelled July 23
Account shutdown July 27.
I am no fan of FC...but this is poor proof of anything. Aside from the fact FC charged a week earlier than they were supposed to.
OK, well then it's fair to say Funcom may be charging people in advance, knowing people will wait until about 3-4 days before their account is up to cancel.
Anyone talking lawsuits. Class action people. It sends a way bigger message, and the courts will take many peoples words for it over one persons.
Plus, like I said, you only need one representative for the whole group of people.
Still no fan of FC, but really...ppl need to learn to DELETE their payment info once they cancel an account...payment info is automatic, and if your info is there..you are taking a chance of being charged.
Plus...the account billing date would have started May 21st....the first official day of AoC release. So makes sence that June/July payments would have been on the 21st as well. Perhaps the OP should check previous month payment to see what day it came off.
I left AoC cause I didn't like the game...but I find the accusing of CC fraud going a little far.
If I had a dime for every thread I have seen in ao forums over past year with this same issue I would be a very rich troll.
What?...a dime for every person that cancelled their account after being charged then claiming it is CC fraud?
http://i34.tinypic.com/nxtirs.jpg
AoC Credit Card scamming.
Seems my account was banned because I accidentally posted in wrong thread.
Bump for further awareness. After this I hope Funcom and every one of its employees goes bankrupt and ends up on the streets.