SquareEnix doesn't prorate subscriptions? *sigh*

[Hershies]

I decided to come back to the game today with my Xbox 360 and reactivated my content ID. Today is the 26th, and I had no idea that SE doesn't prorate subscriptions. I read that I will be charged on the first of October for ALL of September and October



That isn't a good way to welcome back your players, SE. That's bad business.

[Feba]

And even SE's own support reps would've told you this, not to mention our own thread mentioning it, as well as whatever POL agreement you clicked OK to almost certainly saying that you were charged by calender month, not time.


It's your own damn fault really.

[Grizzlebeard]

It's your own damn fault really.

True, although you have to admit it's still an unethical way to run a business knowing they'd get people like the OP subscribing and as a way of saying welcome back we'll nail you in the ass for two months subscriptions.

[Hershies]

And even SE's own support reps would've told you this, not to mention our own thread mentioning it, as well as whatever POL agreement you clicked OK to almost certainly saying that you were charged by calender month, not time.


It's your own damn fault really.

Well I figured it was like all other MMORPG monthly fees. I've never played a MMORPG, aside from FFXI obviously, that doesn't prorate subscription fees. It never even crossed my mind. As far as all the legal jargon for POL, you can hardly blame someone for not reading that. Could I have read that and figured it out? Sure. As I said, I've never heard of a MMORPG developer not prorating end user subscriptions, so it never crossed my mind to be wary of it.

Thanks for the friendly response though

[Mhurron]

It's only unethical if they try to hide the fact.

[KingOfZeal]

I recall at one point there is a circumstance when they're prorated, though. I remember when I first signed up for each of my accounts (and used the free 30 day trial thingy for both) that I only owed like 3 bucks each time the first payment, because I started up toward middle-end of the month.

I may have been hallucinating, though.

It's only unethical if they try to hide the fact.

*Ethics class kicks in*
Why would it be unethical only if they tried to hide it?
Note: I'm not saying it's ethical or unethical, but the first thing we learned was pretty much to question everything until a reasonable thought process is established.

[Mhurron]

*Ethics class kicks in*
Why would it be unethical only if they tried to hide it?

Because not prorating is not inherently right or wrong, hiding the fact however would be. I would also argue that just because other games do prorate, it is not yet the expected 'social norm.' That's why it remains a selling point., or at the very least an entry in a FAQ.

[Hershies]

What's done is done. I am not saying it's "unethical"... it's just bad business to snake money from customers like that.

"BUT THEY AREN'T SNAKING! YOU DIDN'T READ! HARHAR"

Ok, whatever. The typical user isn't going to read pages of user agreements and snoop through online FAQs before signing up for a damn MMORPG sub. Say what you want about me apparently not putting up enough effort in researching my MMORPG fees, I am thinking realistically.

As I said before, every other major MMORPG I've played (and I've played MANY of them) has a prorated subscription or a custom billing cycle for each user based on when they resubscribed. SE did this either to nab extra cash for subscriptions or out of pure laziness to set up a system like their competition.

[Feba]

I've never played a MMORPG, aside from FFXI obviously, that doesn't prorate subscription fees.

FFXI != Other MMOs. If you come to FFXI expecting it to be like other MMOs, you're in for a world of hurt anyway.

Also keep in mind FFXI is a Japanese MMO, I'm not familiar with other Japanese MMOs but it's entirely possible that charging by calender months and not playtime months is the norm.

[Illuen]

What's done is done. I am not saying it's "unethical"... it's just bad business to snake money from customers like that.
"BUT THEY AREN'T SNAKING! YOU DIDN'T READ! HARHAR"
Ok, whatever. The typical user isn't going to read pages of user agreements and snoop through online FAQs before signing up for a damn MMORPG sub. Say what you want about me apparently not putting up enough effort in researching my MMORPG fees, I am thinking realistically.
As I said before, every other major MMORPG I've played (and I've played MANY of them) has a prorated subscription or a custom billing cycle for each user based on when they resubscribed. SE did this either to nab extra cash for subscriptions or out of pure laziness to set up a system like their competition.

Any time I am spending money, I make damn sure to know how much I am spending, and make sure to read the fine print.
Caveat emptor.

[Hershies]

FFXI != Other MMOs. If you come to FFXI expecting it to be like other MMOs, you're in for a world of hurt anyway.

Also keep in mind FFXI is a Japanese MMO, I'm not familiar with other Japanese MMOs but it's entirely possible that charging by calender months and not playtime months is the norm.

This is true and, yes, I know FFXI isn't like other MMORPGs (I've played FFXI off and on since its release here in the US). I am merely saying that if you're used to subscriptions being user friendly after playing many many pay to play titles, you aren't going to put forth extra research in to whether of not SE is going to double charge you for 4 days play. That's not typically how the human thought process plays out.

I work a petty menial job. Knowing that SE is taking over an hours pay from me for such a stupid thing upsets me. Is it all their fault? No. However I can still criticize their subscription plan for not being user friendly.

[Feba]

Ok, whatever. The typical user isn't going to read pages of user agreements and snoop through online FAQs before signing up for a damn MMORPG sub.

Let me put that in to the words you're actually saying.

Ok, whatever. The typical person isn't going to read pages of user agreements and snoop through online FAQs before signing a contract.

Which might very well be true. However, whenever you sign or agree to something without reading the terms, it's your fault if there's something in there you weren't aware of. If I were you, I'd be glad this is just a $13 charge on a video game, and not a loan that costs you thousands of dollars.

[Aksannyi]

Well I'm kind of with the OP here, as I wouldn't have read it either upon signing up, I would have just been glad to get back into the game. If it were a bit more obvious when you sign up that S/E is not prorating, it seems to me many people would wait that extra 5 or so days before signing up. Considering as this is not the first thread about this subject, it's something that many people have dealt with and will continue to deal with, and it doesn't make for a happy customer. Wouldn't hurt for them to put a disclaimer right before you click "Accept" that says the charges are not prorated.

Of course it's in the user agreement. Did you read the user agreement when you signed up? Honestly. I'm willing to bet that less than 10% of users actually read that when they FIRST SIGNED UP. You might have gone back to read it later, but when you bought the game, I'm guessing you just wanted to start playing.

Okay, so the OP should have read first in order to know, but I can't really fault him for NOT reading it. And it is true that many businesses in the US prorate, so you might have resonably expected the same from S/E.

[Jei]

We shouldn't defend our FFXI that much imo. Yes, FFXI != other MMO, but this backward fee charging is still lame. It sounds lame and it feels lame.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Newton's 1st Law of Message Boards: For every rant, there will be an equal and opposite reactionary rant.