really annoyed with WoW and blizzard!

[Jonti]

I hope you're right, Radar.

It all hinges on what they mean by "the current period of subscription". When I attempted to cancel I was told "no more payments will be taken when the current period of subscription ends". I asked what that meant, but the drone just repeated the stock-phrase. So I've written to customer support asking for clarification, but I've yet to receive an answer.

Thing is, they were offering a discount for agreeing to pay for several months, even though the payments would only be taken monthly. That's what I did. I suspect Blizzard's ambiguous words and lack of a written answer mean that they regard my "period of subscription" still to have a few months to run.

At any rate, I've had no email confirming the cancellation.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Nope, even after having logged in to play the game, there's an *extra* step to navigate before parental control can be activated.

I explained that here. And, in a direct response to you, I pointed you to that answer already here.

Please don't ask the same question again. Just remember this "even after having logged in to play the game, there's an *extra* step to navigate before parental control can be activated".

Then ring Blizzard, use the account details you have (ie password) and ask for the secret question to be reset, or to send the answer in an email to the registered address. Or something. Or don't let him play WoW in excess of hours agreed thus negating the need for parental controls. Or switch the damn thing off yourself.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I hope you're right, Radar.

It all hinges on what they mean by "the current period of subscription". When I attempted to cancel I was told "no more payments will be taken when the current period of subscription ends". I asked what that meant, but the drone just repeated the stock-phrase. So I've written to customer support asking for clarification, but I've yet to receive an answer.

Thing is, they were offering a discount for agreeing to pay for several months, even though the payments would only be taken monthly. That's what I did. I suspect Blizzard's ambiguous words and lack of a written answer mean that they regard my "period of subscription" still to have a few months to run.

At any rate, I've had no email confirming the cancellation.

Such emails will go to the address registered with the account, which may not be yours.

What "the current period of subscription" means is the period you paid for. Beyond that it will automatically renew (as said above) or the account holder cancels the account and it will not renew. You pay for a given period of subscription, that's the only way to play the game. Once that period expires it renews unless cancelled.

 

[Jonti]

I doubt that, but anyway, they haven't replied to that email address either.

I was told "no more money will be taken from you once the current period of subscription ends. That seems to imply they've refused to let me cancel within "the current period of subscription" but have only agreed not to do an automatic renewal.

I thought I could recognise an intent to deceive. The weasel words, and refusal to clarify pointed strongly towards the intent to dissemble. Not outright lie, just to intentionally deceive*.

If the Blizzard operative had wanted to be clear he'd have said "the payment we've taken this week is the last we'll take from that card, unless you renew. The account will become unplayable on or before <the appropriate date>."

* yes, this is irony. To intentionally deceive is to lie, even if a lawyer does it with clever words.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I doubt that, but anyway, they haven't replied to that email address either.

I was told "no more money will be taken from you once the current period of subscription ends. That seems to imply they've refused to let me cancel within "the current period of subscription" but have only agreed not to do an automatic renewal.

You doubt what? They won't reply immediately, surely you aren't expecting an instantant response. They are mostly shut over the weekends.

You seem to have a problem understanding that you have paid for a given period of time and that, having done so, subsequently cancelling it doesn't mean that the account will end at the point of cancellation. That would mean not getting what you have paid for. If you are that bothered by it then don't let your son use the account in the meantime. The account will expire and your son won't be playing WoW.

 

[Jonti]

Then ring Blizzard, use the account details you have (ie password) and ask for the secret question to be reset, or to send the answer in an email to the registered address. Or something. Or don't let him play WoW in excess of hours agreed thus negating the need for parental controls. Or switch the damn thing off yourself.

I appreciate you want to give advice and to help.

Please could you find someone else to help now?

 

[fubert]

First of all Blizzard are just trying to protect the account according to their terms of service. I find it weird that they're asking for the password though, they say they never do that.

As you don't have the info the way I see it is you've got a few options :

- Uninstall WoW from the PC unless the password is handed over
- Try and get a refund from the card issuer so that the account dies immediately
- Block whatever ports or internet access
- Keep a good eye on him when he's playing

Besides if your son has the username and password, and you set parental controls on, what's stopping him just turning them off again ? (not that I know how they work)

 

[Awesome Wells]

I appreciate you want to give advice and to help.

Please could you find someone else to help now?

Stuff you then.

 

[hendo]

Jonti, you've had a lot of advice from various different quarters here, and I reckon some of it has been very good indeed. Your response has been rude, not to put too fine a point on it. But here's my tuppence worth.

I played Warcraft for two years. The truth is that after you've 'levelled' your character further progress in the game has to happen by raiding. This is a time intensive process, with game sessions that end only when mutually agreed objectives are reached. I'm not at all surprised your son can't remember the answer that will enable you to automatically stop his session. It will be viewed by his guild as extremely poor form, to say the least, if he logs out before the end of a raid.

I enjoyed warcraft, but had to stop. It was making me even more boring than I already am. It's tricky enough making the game compatible with an ordinary job; I reckon O level and other studies will suffer if your son is committed to the 'end stage' of WoW. It's a game that's almost too good.

Being 14 is awful. If I'd had Wow when i was a teen i'd never have left Azeroth. Either go in his room and police his play yourself, or bite the bullet and uninstall the game - your son might thank you one day.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Jonti, you've had a lot of advice from various different quarters here, and I reckon some of it has been very good indeed. Your response has been rude, not to put too fine a point on it.

Quite.

To sum up, you (and your son) don't have all the information necessary to make changes to the account - i.e. you are unable to adequately identify yourselves to Blizzard. Why should they then allow you to make changes to the account?

There must be some kind of "I've forgotten my secret password/high school/mother's maiden name" link somewhere on the WoW site - can't you retrieve/reset the information through there?

hendo is also right, though.

 

[hendo]

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