This will shine as an extreme example of a “process needing angioplasty”
Four years ago, we canceled our account with Blizzard for World of Warcraft as I described here – we could not make it work even with a new computer, new modem and hundreds of dollars in network diagnostics. Every quarter since they have billed my credit card and the card company has disputed it with them and credited my account.
For four years!!
I sarcastically blogged about it again a year later hoping a marketing person would notice. No action.
I even sent a snail-mail letter to President Mike Morhaime begging for some executive attention. Check – there has been no activity on the account. Stop the insane cycle. No response from him or his staff.
I finally get an email:
“Access to the World of Warcraft account XXXXXXXXX, has been temporarily disabled due to a dispute filed against the account's past payments. This dispute was filed by the bank, credit card company, or financial institution associated with the payment on the account.
As a result of this dispute, funds paid on the account were withdrawn from Blizzard Entertainment in direct violation of the account's terms. This is known as a "chargeback."
The total withdrawn by this chargeback(s) was: $XXX.XX
If your charge is returned to Blizzard Entertainment for any reason, Blizzard Entertainment reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or terminate your access and your Account, as well as terminating this Agreement and all of Blizzard Entertainment's obligations hereunder.
The account is now considered by Blizzard to have a negative balance, and will be unavailable for play until any and ALL outstanding balances have been repaid to Blizzard. These funds can only be repaid via a United States money order for the full and EXACT amount of the disputed funds: $XXX.XX
This money order must be made out to "Blizzard Entertainment" and MUST clearly list the World of Warcraft account name in question:
XXXXXXXX
It should be mailed to this address:
ATTN: Billing & Account Services
Blizzard Entertainment
P. O. Box 18979
Irvine, CA 92623
We strongly suggest you use some form of tracking to make sure your mail gets to Blizzard Entertainment; we are not able to assist with lost inquiries. If we do not receive your package, we will not be able process your request. Once the money order is received and processed, Blizzard will unlock the account for play again, provided these instructions have been followed. Upon payment, Blizzard will also credit the account with play time equivalent to any paid subscription time that the account was locked out for (up to a maximum of 180 days).
This process to unlock the account is offered with this email is considered as a final warning: ***ANY subsequent payment disputes will result in a permanent closure of the account for repeated breach of the Terms of Use.***
Unless the above process is followed to get the money order to Blizzard, the World of Warcraft account in question will remain unplayable until said funds are received. Please do not reply to this email, as you will receive no further response. Be aware that Blizzard Billing representatives will NOT be able to provide any alternatives or expedite this process in any way.
Regards,
Billing & Account Services
www.blizzard.com”
All I can say is hooray – some body there finally noticed!
