Curse

chris_nin00 · Dec 07, 2005, 01:14 AM // 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

NO

You always

Loviatar

And that too bad buddy. There is really nothing you can do.

Moral of the day: Friends don't let friends Ebay!

eik · Dec 07, 2005, 01:23 AM // 01:23

people do this all the time on ebay. they most likely stole a credit card number and used it to purchase an account to resell on ebay. that's why most likely there was a reversal 6 months afterwards. only when a person launches a personal investigation to unknown charges on their visa do they show up that late. otherwise if he did it personally, there is less downtime. buying console games over ebay is fine, this problem arises mostly with pc games since they require keys that are not secure in any way.

lesson learned, don't do it again in the future. nothing you can really do about it now.

Sovetskeey · Dec 07, 2005, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Ahhh the joys of eBay and exactly why I closed both my PayPal and eBay accounts. Personally I've never bought anything online. I've only donated money to my clan.
My buddy sold his paintball hopper on eBay and sent it. A couple weeks later he gets an e-mail from PayPal saying the guy filed a complaint that the product wasn't delivered (even though he tracked the package on FedEx's site) so they pulled the money from his PayPal account and gave it back to the guy.
This crap isn't as secure as you'd think and it should be a lesson learned for you. Both not to buy shit from online auctions and to read and obey EULAs and ToU agreements.

Ard Wen · Dec 07, 2005, 01:59 AM // 01:59

I think its wrong that ebay allows these kind of sales. Its almost like they are doing sales like a blackmarket. You would think Ebay could be sued by Anet for the this

Former Ruling · Dec 07, 2005, 02:18 AM // 02:18

Ebay cant be really sued for jack - You can read some small claims cases in Cali. about it - but PayPal (owned by Ebay btw) IS the Electric Funds Transfer choice...Its like suing Microsoft.

Tips (taken from various sites like the one already linked too):
1) Never do business with anyone more than once. This flags your account for watching.
2) Never do business with anyone with African or Asian type names (I AM NOT KIDDING AT ALL) - This too flags your account for limiting.
3) Never deal with more than $2,500 dollars a day passing through your account - This flags your account for watching.
4) Basically anything else that is risky.

PayPal blames YOU if anything EVER happens (like a buyer using stolen Credit Card), and Will Flag your account for freezing/limiting for almost ANYTHING.

They are ALWAYS looking for some excuse to Freeze or limit accounts and flee with your money. If you even BREATHE wrong in their eyes - they have right to take your money.

And this is all ok because of their ToS (like our EULA). Their Terms basically say....they can do anything they want with your money..and you cant do jack about it..and you have to agree to use their service.

So when your account is froze and they take your money for good, all they have to do is mark your account with "NO APPEALS" signature - and your screwed...

Courts are finually starting to rule against this though..

Kai Nui · Dec 07, 2005, 02:20 AM // 02:20

I don't see how they could ban your account if the activation code wasn't activated. How does your activation code get banned if you're the only one who knows about it?

chippxero · Dec 07, 2005, 02:28 AM // 02:28

Never ever buy a game second hand that needs a cd key to play online.

Simple as that.

EDIT: i don't think the OP got a physical copy just the cd key and downloaded the game content.

Former Ruling · Dec 07, 2005, 02:47 AM // 02:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kai Nui

I don't see how they could ban your account if the activation code wasn't activated. How does your activation code get banned if you're the only one who knows about it?

The account's validness was never in question.

let me explain the terms that seem to be confusing you.

What happened is a chargeback - one of the most common scams, yet one that PayPal TOTALLY does wrong.

Chargeback means this line of events:
1) Ebay Guy (call him EB for short) buys Key with his Credit Card from Anet.
2) EB sells this to the OP on Ebay (this is why I assume PayPal).
3) OP activates account - everything is fine.
4) EB tells PayPal that he didnt autorize the purchase of the Key from Anet, this is called a Chargeback.
5) PayPal sucks, and just does the chargeback with no invesigating or anything, and EB's credit Card pays him his $50 back
6) Anet gets information that the Key was bought by unautorized persons, so Freezes the account and why wouldn't it? It just gave the account to someone unautorized (or so it thinks), so freezes the account and cuts its loses.

It has nothing to do with The OP buying the account on Ebay thus breaking EULA - It has to do with EB saying that it didn't autorize its purchase of the key so the key is froze.

PayPal's horrible handling of Chargeback fruad like this is why sites like paypalsucks exist...

Basically in the end EB gets his $50 back form the purchase, AND OP's $40, and OP is left with a Locked account.

Swehurn · Dec 07, 2005, 03:43 AM // 03:43

Maybe I missed this point - was the chargeback issued because the game was bought on a stolen card and the legitimate owner of the card disputed the charge, or was the card actually owned by the person who sold you the game?

My guess is that it was a stolen card - the seller could get in quite a bit of trouble (fraud) if he used his own card to buy something, resold it, and then disputed the original charge...

If it's a stolen card, you're definitely outta luck.

Dax · Dec 07, 2005, 07:21 AM // 07:21

I honestly wouldn't know if you're SOL or not, but I wouldn't buy software on Ebay period. There are a plethora of places you can buy software and if there's a problem with the cd key you can return it.

coolsti · Dec 07, 2005, 08:03 AM // 08:03

Can't live with it, can't live without it. The O.P.'s comment about the uncaring response of PayPal reminds me of a difficulty we had with this institution. My wife was doing a lot of shopping on Ebay using PayPal as means for payment, when suddenly her useage limit was reached, and she had to pay $5 or so to apply for an extention. Since we live in Denmark and our banks do things differently (our credit cards are bank debit cards), the "activation" number that PayPal insisted was on our credit card statement was never received on our side. Write to PayPal, telephone to PayPal. Did PayPal care? No. Did PayPal help us? No. Did we get anything for the $5we paid? No.

If I could, I would never use PayPal again. Institutions that become popular, and then become seemingly necessary, and then become inflexible and unapproachable should be closed down.

lyra_song · Dec 07, 2005, 08:59 AM // 08:59

That fact that paypal imposes moral codes on its transactions (You cant use paypal for anything adult content related) also is quite hypocritical considering how much they slice off for themselves.

edit: paypal's mature content acceptable usage policy: http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...side&ed=mature

which is funny considering you need to be an adult to have a credit card or have a bank account to connect to paypal...and yet they wont let you buy p0rn with it....thats just...stupid.

Red Sonya · Dec 07, 2005, 10:34 AM // 10:34

Lesson of Note: Never buy anything off Ebay that requires a CD key to play anything multiplayer online. Even including games like Neverwinter Nights. Mainly because of what happened to you, the origional owner at anytime can cancel the account, change the password even and use it while you pay for it with your credit card until you stop payment on the card.

Mainly because you don't know if this person has used the CD key or not. If you buy a game strictly to play OFFLINE, then there is no problem, you will always get your offline play out of a game that requires a CD key.

Best thing to do if you want a game cheap is just wait for the bargain bin prices or use Gogamer.com for their 48 hours specials which are $5 to $10 off retail and they have a $1.99 shipping deal.

wolver1ne · Dec 07, 2005, 06:06 PM // 18:06

And what's wrong with buying directly from Anet (or PlayNC to be correct) or just a regular game shop? Nothing! So why bother with ebay or other so called cheap sources.

Pandora's box · Dec 07, 2005, 06:45 PM // 18:45

A few notes:

-The EULA rule about Ebay is a new one. It did not exist 6 months ago. And you did not trade with Ebay after the rule was added. So that has nothing to do with being banned. It was the chargeback.
-6 Months is a VERY long time to ask for a chargeback. It certainly is worth some effort contacting police/CIA with your information and ask for investigation. But these cases don't have a high priority I'm afraid, unless its about much more money.
-You played for 6 months... Either you will love the game and have no problems buying a new copy at a shop (prices are lower now, and your total price of the 2 copies wont be much more than the price of the new game 6 months ago)... Or you hardly play anymore in which case I would say: leave it. 6 Months of fun for such a price is a bargain.

Kool Pajamas · Dec 07, 2005, 06:49 PM // 18:49

If Paypal limits your account, call them up over the phone. I did that and was restored instantly even though I had a no appeal thing.

Vorlin · Dec 08, 2005, 11:48 PM // 23:48

Pandora, getting ripped off isn't a 'bargain'. With spin skills like that you should work for the Bush administration. *laugh*

But if you can't see it, try this on for size: ANet cancels -your- account an hour from now, and when you complain I tell you you got a bargain because of all the hours you'd played up till then. I'm guessing you won't feel all that good about it.

imaginary friend · Dec 08, 2005, 11:50 PM // 23:50

LOL... teaches those ebay pwn0rz right!
sorry it happened to you
but teaches you ebay pwn0rz right!

Loviatar · Dec 09, 2005, 12:12 AM // 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorlin

But if you can't see it, try this on for size: ANet cancels -your- account an hour from now, and when you complain I tell you you got a bargain because of all the hours you'd played up till then. I'm guessing you won't feel all that good about it.

if he bought it legally instead of ebay he would have a valid complaint and they would restore the account.

considering they got a 6 month trial for their money they can now decide to buy it, wait for chapter 2 or get something else.

very cheap lesson to be more careful.

and if you dont think they got off easy you live a very sheltered life