31 replies to this topic

[Jonny Slam]

Not sure if anyone else has had this problem lately, but today when I tried to buy MC online the transaction was denied several times.

I called the CC company and they assured me no one had stolen it and run up a huge bill but in fact the problem was with PGI, the company ( in USA) said it system wouldn't accept transactions from PGI because there have been too many concerns with complaints from others (not me) regarding it, and "this type of transaction".

The CSR was very apologetic, and polite, and patient as I went through a list of questions regarding this and my aggravation, the end result being that while I have no problems spending money on WOW, DDO, LOL, and a myriad of other online services, PGI and Mechwarrior is not one.

Up until October of last year I had no problems like this, so what is going on?

I have sent a email to support, but I'm a bit dubious about what they can do.

Anyone else?

[Agent 0 Fortune]

I had a transaction held, I called my CC company, and said, calmly and plainly "I made this purchase, please allow the transaction", the CC representative said "Yes sir, I will approve it right now, anything else today".
It was some serious drama, but I coped.

[Jonny Slam]

Well don't ever think I don't like PGI mate, granted I am seriously annoyed, but I still support PGI and the game especially since they became self-published again.

As proof, when hearing nothing from PGI, and trying every friggen thing I could think of, and spending way to much time on the phone with the credit card company... who I could call.... hint, hint, hint, I bit the bullet and drove to the nearest city to find and buy a Karma koin card. Keep in mind I am in Arizona, so "nearest" city is a relative thing, so after driving over a hour each way I am back with a $100 on the card and just bought 25k MC.

So as I said, I support PGI and this wonderful game.... but ******* hell they have to make it easier to give them bloody money.


On the bright side, by the time my 'drop buddies all wake up I will have 3 mastered Kingcrabs!

J.S.

Edited by Jonny Slam, 17 January 2015 - 06:43 PM.

[Brody319]

Agent 0 Fortune, on 17 January 2015 - 05:53 PM, said:

I had a transaction held, I called my CC company, and said, calmly and plainly "I made this purchase, please allow the transaction", the CC representative said "Yes sir, I will approve it right now, anything else today".
It was some serious drama, but I coped.

You poor child. I know how that feels.

[Tarl Cabot]

Is the card an actual credit card or a debit card? Debit cards tend to be more of a pain than not but also for good reason, since it is tied to your actual money and not to a line of credit. Bank issued credit cards tend to fall between cards issued by credit card companies and bank debit cards.

Wasn't clear if you are in the US or not, but if so then there is Paypal and Karma Koin. And Karma Koin can be purchased through Paypal. Either way $50 max but the Koins can be merged.

On the other side bank issued cc/debit cards do eventually become caution of online game purchases for lots of reasons. The reasons can be from players game account info does not match the card info at the bank, then attempting to make several attempts to get a purchase to go through, to a player becoming unhappy about his virtual purchase and putting a stop payment on it, to actual/alleged fraudulent reasons. End result can be a bank declining all purchases from said game to reduce overhead/issues.

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 17 January 2015 - 07:12 PM.

[Insects]

Its common with all F2P/micro transaction games.
They get a high rate of chargebacks due to kids sneaking parents cardcard, plus people getting angry over nerfs to their purchases or non responsive tech support leaving their purchase unplayable and claiming chargeback on "item not as described" grounds.
The result is that some banks systems declare the "fraud" rate too high and block the F2P games transactions.

[CocoaJin]

Blame it on the MM.

joelmuzz, on 17 January 2015 - 07:29 PM, said:

Its common with all F2P/micro transaction games.
They get a high rate of chargebacks due to kids sneaking parents cardcard, plus people getting angry over nerfs to their purchases or non responsive tech support leaving their purchase unplayable and claiming chargeback on "item not as described" grounds.
The result is that some banks systems declare the "fraud" rate too high and block the F2P games transactions.

This is likely the culprit...children and immature man-children.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

CocoaJin, on 17 January 2015 - 07:47 PM, said:

immature man-children.

Often imitated, but never duplicated, here's likely the original!

[CocoaJin]

Praetor Knight, on 17 January 2015 - 08:23 PM, said:

Often imitated, but never duplicated, here's likely the original!

I imagine that's the look lots of our whiner population makes when the lose a match or die.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

CocoaJin, on 17 January 2015 - 08:30 PM, said:

I imagine that's the look lots of our whiner population makes when the lose a match or die.

Curly's comedy is awesome!

And sometimes when I read posts that seem to have a rather strong reaction one way or another, I sometimes try to picture how such a post could be verbalized by someone in person; and the idea of a person simply reacting emotionally to frustration lead me to think of the original!

[Escef]

Jonny Slam, on 17 January 2015 - 04:51 PM, said:

I called the CC company and they assured me no one had stolen it and run up a huge bill but in fact the problem was with PGI, the company ( in USA) said it system wouldn't accept transactions from PGI because there have been too many concerns with complaints from others (not me) regarding it, and "this type of transaction".

Never heard of that. I've had a debit card transaction declined because PGI is in a "foreign" country (Canuckistan).

[EgoSlayer]

You can buy Karma Coins online and get digital keys if the MWO site is not working due to CC issues.

You can buy digital Karma Coins in US currency at newegg.com for sure, I've done it.

[LT. HARDCASE]

If you can't directly tell your CC company to authorize a transaction, you need to find a new CC company to give your business.

That's ridiculous.

Edited by Kevjack, 17 January 2015 - 09:45 PM.

[darkkterror]

I have to imagine that this is something that individual banks/credit card companies are doing on their own (as far as deciding to block payments to PGI). I can't imagine it's something on PGI's end since I've never had any problems giving them money. Actually, I kinda wish I did have trouble giving them money when I think about how much I've already given them...

One of these days I'm gonna have to join some kind of "F2P Anonymous" group. Spend way too much on F2P games...

Edited by darkkterror, 17 January 2015 - 09:48 PM.

[Kyrie]

A lot of credit card companies charge some fairly hefty "foreign transaction fees", depending on your bank. Paypal can often be a better deal.

[Jonny Slam]

Let's see,

As I said I'm in Arizona, so that means I'm in the states, granted just 30k's from the border.

It is a credit card not a debit card, a visa from a established multi-state bank, and as I tried to explain, the trouble was not on PGI's end but instend, because of PGI's problems, or should I say how the CC company's system looked at PGI transactions. It was enough that the CC system said "nope, no more of these from them sorry". The CC company customer service rep was, very sorry, understanding, helpful and best of all... there to speak with. I must also say that while it was a Pain in bum, I would rather my CC company be more careful then not.

The kids that sneak their parents cards... and the accompanying "social engineering" is just the type of shenanigans I was advised that the CC would prefer to avoid.

Good Tip about buying Karma Koin online, will have to try that next time, thanks!

[Escef]

Jonny Slam, on 17 January 2015 - 10:06 PM, said:

Let's see,

As I said I'm in Arizona, so that means I'm in the states, granted just 30k's from the border.

Ok, and? I'm in the US as well. PGI is in Canada, which, in case you failed to notice, is NOT the US.

Jonny Slam, on 17 January 2015 - 10:06 PM, said:

It is a credit card not a debit card, a visa from a established multi-state bank,...

Irrelevant. My debit card is backed by Visa and was issued by a registered credit union. So what?

Jonny Slam, on 17 January 2015 - 10:06 PM, said:

... and as I tried to explain, the trouble was not on PGI's end but instend, because of PGI's problems, or should I say how the CC company's system looked at PGI transactions. It was enough that the CC system said "nope, no more of these from them sorry".

More likely it was a "these types of transactions", meaning online transactions to foreign countries. Several companies have run into such issues. As for it being PGI specific, I'm actually skeptical of that claim.

[Zero G BD]

I am in Canada using a Canadian VISA. After making a purchase of a gift bundle my card got locked down and I had a call from VISA security within minutes to approve the purchase and unlock the card.
I use this card for online purchases all the time and put large dollar amounts through it without ever being questioned before. This was new, they wouldn't tell me why this purchase was a big deal.

Oh and I have bought things on this card through PGI in the past, though it was a while ago.

[Escef]

Zero G BD, on 18 January 2015 - 01:38 AM, said:

I am in Canada using a Canadian VISA. After making a purchase of a gift bundle my card got locked down and I had a call from VISA security within minutes to approve the purchase and unlock the card.
I use this card for online purchases all the time and put large dollar amounts through it without ever being questioned before. This was new, they wouldn't tell me why this purchase was a big deal.

Oh and I have bought things on this card through PGI in the past, though it was a while ago.

It might have something to do with whatever company PGI is using to process their orders. I never had an issue when Infinite Boat Anchor was still around (but then, they made getting paid priority 1, and quality priority whatever).

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Never had a problem paying for stuff here.

Usually it's banks and companies being too careful.