I keep saying it because i first subscribed in 2008 and it was this way. You had to check an option so they would charge it authomatically, else they would send a email reminding that your subscription was about to lapse and it would lapse if not renewed manually. Since they didn’t reminded of the authomated charges once you had it selected, this would lead to funny events like you forgetting to reload the virtual credit card used for subscriptions, so…
Dear (redacted)
Player (redacted), we failed to bill your CreditCard account on: Fri, 06 May 2011 11:48:33 GMT, in the amount of 71.70 EUR.
Payment ID: (redacted) (Please include with any correspondence.)
Description:
1 x 6 Month EVE Subscription @ 71.70 EUR = 71.70 EUR
TOTAL = 71.70 EUR
To contact Customer Support and Services, please send an Email to: support@eveonline.com
Customer Support for EVE Online is provided via E-mail 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We do not provide phone support for EVE Online.
For general information about EVE, the Customer Support Knowledgebase is available here: http://support.eveonline.com
Best regards,
EVE Online Customer Support
That’s it, I had recurrent payments checked so I didn’t get any warning about the incoming charge and thus it was bounced. That was in 2011.
Later, they changed it to have autobilling by default instead than an opt-in and that also caught me by surprise with an unexpected charge…
I first subbed in 2004 (this is not my first char, just the one I stuck with), and I don’t ever remember seeing such an option, as I remember it I always had to cancel sub manually. Sadly I don’t have as old emails from CCP, oldest ones I have from 2011 only mention my account being billed according to my sub, but no reminders. Newer ones from 2012 say “We are contacting you to remind you that according to our records you have 6 days left on your non-recurring subscription to EVE Online.” And even if there was such an option in the past, it hasn’t existed in the past 6 or so years at least.
Anyway, for the umpteenth time, I have nothing against changes people have suggested to the system, but in this case it really starts looking like it’s the OP that messed up, not CCP. I know its unfair because I’ve had the same happen to me in antiquity too, but people are banging on CCP unfairly over this. People are dissing OP too harshly too, by the way. Mistakes happen, there is no need to say he doesn’t know how to run his finances because he forgot he had an active sub.
And I’ve criticized CCP plenty in the past and probably will in the future so I find it laughable people call me a “ccp apologist.”
The only thing OP did wrong was wasting money on food instead of using it for more important things like EvE sub and skins.
EvE is love, EvE is life.
EvE is mother, EvE is father.
EvE is real, EvE is all.
With the below graph in mind (slightly outdated data), then I find it ludicrous that it even needs mention, that IRL financial obligations come before hobby expenses.
Couldn’t find more recent data, which was why I settled for that one.
Might have shifted a bit, but still believe most of the players are 20+. But it’s only a hunch, so don’t kill me if CCP releases new data and I’m totally wrong.
Obviously not to EVE Online, so it was wasted. Op should reduce his cravings for non-EVE related items. That aside, more options in the account page can’t hurt. Also note that every advert does NOT mention subscription but only on the website it does, very weird and that’s a psychological trick from marketeers. It’s not against the law as they clearly state the subscription/renewal situation before you order/pay.
Back in '09 you had a non-recurring option, the default were still a subscription plan (recurring). When CCP relaunched EVEonline’s website they probably didn’t see a need to offer game time without a recurring plan (most do use recurring plan). I don’t remember when they relaunched the website, I’m sure there is someone who does know.
Email about expiring account(s) are only send if they do not have a recurring payment plan (subscription). It has always been this way.
Emails are also send to account(s) with recurring payment plan to notify that they are being billed and by how much, I assume this is required by law. You’d probably be mad if you didn’t receive an invoice of product/service you payed for.
When I first started in '09 you had a checkbox for recurring. I think it was removed a couple years later so '11. I got hit by this when I sudden had an auto renewal (luckily I had the money). It has since been an annoyance for me every time I pay a sub that I have to then go into account management and unsub to prevent auto payments.
I’d like to add my voice to the statement that this should be an option like it used to be. Opt-in not Opt-out. Too many company’s are going to the screw the customer model of forcing opt-outs that are many times hidden or not obvious. This is one of the things that has caused me to loose respect for CCP as a company (I still love the game though).
Every MMO I play has a subscription service - even “free games”. The subscription is to get better benefits.
It’s been like this since my first EQ character… and EQ STILL has a subscription service.
All of these subscription services are default auto-draw. They plainly state so, and you have to agree to continue with the transaction.
So, yes, industry standard - when looking at the correct industry.
Did CCP charge you at a time other than what was agreed to when you accepted the subscription?
Did CCP double bill you?
Did CCP charge you more than you agreed to?
If yes to any of these things, then you should really be taking your complaint to billing.
If not, then your current predicament was entirely of your own making.
Take ownership of your mistake, and move on.
Hell, create an app so you never have this problem again.
Sell a subscription to said app and make enough to cover your EvE-time.
Donations (ISK) given to developers are fine, but you may not hide app content behind a “PayWall”.
Developer License Aggreement
4. NON-COMMERCIAL NATURE OF THIS AGREEMENT
The rights granted under this Agreement are intended for non-commercial and non-profit use solely to improve the enjoyment of EVE. Except as provided in Section 4.4 below, Developer may not charge any fee in exchange for a Player’s access to or use of the Application, or otherwise monetize or generate any revenue from the Application. Similarly, CCP shall not impose on Players any separate fee specifically for access to or use of a Developer’s Application (other than ordinary and customary subscription fees for access to EVE). Nothing in this Section or this Agreement, however, shall be deemed to limit CCP’s ability to promote, distribute, charge subscription fees for access to, or otherwise generate revenue from EVE or CCP’s other products.
Developer shall not a tie a Player’s access to, or use of, the Application to the purchase of any other product or service, or to a Player’s participation in any survey, marketing or promotional offer, or other similar activity. Except as expressly provided in Section 4(4)(a) below with respect to in-game currency, developer shall not charge fees for unlocking or providing access to premium content within an Application.
Except as provided in Section 4.4 or by separate written agreement with CCP, Developer shall not sell, license, or otherwise monetize products of any kind based upon or incorporating parts of EVE, the CCP Marks, the Licensed Materials or Derivative Works.
Although the rights granted under this Agreement are intended for non-commercial and non-profit use, CCP recognizes that Developer may want to use the Application to increase Developer’s status or resources as a Player of EVE. In addition, CCP recognizes that Developer may incur costs to host, maintain, and support the Application. Therefore, the following methods of monetizing an Application are permitted by CCP: (a) Developer may condition the access or use of an Application on payment or other transfer of EVE’s valid in-game currency (e.g., ISK) to Developer or to any registered EVE corporation of which Developer is a member; (b) Developer may solicit voluntary donations of money from Players (i.e., U.S. dollars, British Pounds Sterling, etc.) solely to offset Developer’s costs of maintaining and supporting an Application, provided that use of the Application is not in any way restricted or conditioned on providing such a donation; or (c) Developer may generate revenue from displaying general advertisements that do not interfere with a Player’s access to, or use of, the Application. Revenue from general advertisements includes revenue from partner programs such as Google AdSense, YouTube, Twitch.tv, Ustream.tv, or similar sites. Each of the monetization activities above will be permitted provided they are not carried out in a manner that would otherwise violate EVE’s end user license agreement, terms of service, or other rules and conditions accepted as a condition to access EVE. In addition, receipt of advertising revenue must comply with any guidelines published by CCP from time to time. CCP reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine whether any method of monetizing an Application complies with the Purpose and the conditions of this Section 4.4.
Your rent bounced due to mismanagement of your finances and would have anyway the day before CCP took the payment for your sub! Now due to this you want to blame ccp for your financial mismanagement!
You would have known they direct debit your rent as you would have agreed that at setup of your rental agreement and given them banking details!
Did you think your rent got paid by fairy dust or unicorn horns?
Pro tip: set up a book or diary with dates for checks and balances it is that simple!
