EA's billing department for WHO is hitting credit cards and banks with multiple charges.
Eurogamer has learned that the billing department behind EA's subscription-based MMORPG Warhammer Online (WHO) is over-charging players to the point of hundreds of dollars, hitting up credit cards and bank accounts with multiple charges. Electronic Arts has already acknowledged the problem, claiming that the vendor responsible for charging user accounts is working on reversing the damage within 24 to 36 hours.
Still, many gamers are feeling the pain, especially when banks kick in their vicious overdraft fees. "My account I pay my sub from was billed today for over 500 dollars in 16 dollar increments," said one subscriber on the official WHO forum. "The account was overdrawn and with fees and over-billing it was 562.73 total."
Another gamer said that his account was hit with 22 charges at $14.99 a piece, totaling a whopping $329.78 before overdraft fees. "Maybe legal action should be taken to show the seriousness of this problem, the gamer said.
There could be a case against EA if banks refuse to reverse their overdraft charges. EA said that once the WHO charges have been reversed, fees that were incurred should be refunded. If not, EA wants players to make calls to their banks and credit card companies immediately.
"Please begin by contacting your financial institution and explain to them that you were incorrectly charged multiple times and, as a result, over drafted," the company said here. "Most financial institutions will reverse these charges." Note the word most.
EA added that gamers should give its billing department a call if banking institutions refuse to cave in and reverse their overdraft charges. "Please have the phone and fax number of your financial institution ready when you call," EA said.
Two words: game card.
so does that mean someone is going to burn down ea!!!
That's a CAPITAL idea... lets not try to improve the game, lets just steal from our customers instead. It's work well so far.
The problem is how quickly overdrafts can snowball. Imagine this- EA cleans out your account with subscription fees. After that, a different, legitimate transaction tries to clear your account (anything from a grocery store purchase to your car loan payment). The funds used to be there, but now they aren't, so the transaction is declined. At best, you'll be hit with just your financial institution's overdraft fee. At worst, you could be hit with late fees and NSF fees from whoever you were trying to pay.
"Most financial institutions will reverse these charges." Note the word most.
Exactly. However, if your financial institution will refuse to reverse fees stemming from obviously erroneous charges, you need to switch financial institutions.
so does that mean someone is going to burn down ea!!!
EA: Didn't NPCube charge some of its users 2 or 3 times for 1 month of service accidently? We can outdo that!
And in case you are wondering, I got the Visa during college, with a $500 limit, so just about anyone can get one too (you don't need ridiculous credit for this security and peace of mind).
Really, I NEVER make a purchase online with my actual credit card number, nor do I use my Debit card which is tied directly to my bank account. The internet is too dangerous to risk losing all my money over something like free shipping.
...who, who took my stapler....